To guide against the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in the country, Nigerian Government has formally requested for the Ebola trial drugs from the United States to treat Nigerians already infected.
The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who disclosed this to State House correspondents, said the request has been made to the US Centre for Disease Control.
Chukwu, who spoke after the weekly Federal Cabinet meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said measures being taken to contain the disease dominated the Council deliberations.
It will be recalled that the test drugs were administered on two American aid workers, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, and they are reported to have shown sign of improvement.
The Minister said the request was made Tuesday night and the American government's response now being awaited.
The Health Minister declared that the outbreak of Ebola in the country is a national emergency, calling on the striking doctors to return to work in the interest of the country.
He said government would work out attractive package for health workers that would be drafted to Lagos to assist in containing the Ebola virus.
"We have a national emergency, indeed the world is at risk. Nobody is immune. The experience in Nigeria has alerted the world that it takes just one individual to travel by air to a place to begin an outbreak.
"It is an emergency and secondly everyone is at risk. We have recorded seven confirmed cases that were in contact with the first imported case from Liberia. Yesterday, August 5th, we recorded first known Nigerian to die. She was one of the nurses that attended to the Ebola patient. All that have been identified are people who had direct contact with Liberian. A total of four are in isolation ward and five are confirmed cases".
To guide against stigmatisation, he said the identity of confirmed persons with Ebola virus disease would not be disclosed.
"That is why we are protecting and identifying those affected. Stigmatisation will not solve the problem, it is maintaining of good personal hygiene that can solve it," he said.
The Minister said government has made available N20 million to each state of the federation and the FCT to provide isolation wards for infected people.
However, he regretted that some persons in Lagos were against the setting up of the centre in their neighbourhood. He therefore, enjoined the media to help educate Nigerians.
In the same vein, he said government would set up a special team to provide counselling and psychosocial support to patients, identified contacts and their families, adding "Government will ensure that no Nigerian out of carelessness will get this disease".
The minister counselled further on how to avoid the deadly virus, "When you don't need to give handshake please don't, wash your hands and use hand senitizer as often as you can in the interest of public health.
The general public does not need hand gloves. Health personnel are the most vulnerable and they change the gloves regularly and do not take it home.
"Also those at immigration points are advised to wear gloves and to change regularly. The Ebola organism is weak outside the body so frequent washing of hands and using hand senitizer is advisable. Don't try to form your own liquid".
The Minister advised families of affected persons to avoid sharing same bed sheets, pillow cases and towels with them as they are at great risk should they do so.
Chukwu warned, "If you are close to affected person you can contact via sneezing, coughing as they pass out droplets".
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