The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has advised Lagosians to stop urinating and defecating in public as the Ebola virus was known to thrive in body fluids and could be more easily spread around the state.
He advised Lagos residents to promote personal hygiene, saying: “What all of us must do is to follow all their advice, especially about reporting any suspected cases and about increasing our personal hygiene by constant washing of our hands with soap and water. We should stop unhygienic practices of urinating in public and defaecating in public because those are body fluids and waste through which the virus is known to thrive.”
Fashola also stated that his administration had not rejected drugs or any form of assistance to curb the Ebola epidemic.
The governor said: “This address has become necessary to respond to a series of text messages, e-mails and telephone calls that I have received in order to reiterate some of what you may already know, to share information about what you may not know, and to keep everybody safe. This has become the moreso in the light of allegations that are making the rounds, either that victims are being neglected, or that a useful drug or vaccine is being rejected or that there is a shortage of funds. I wish to state very categorically that none of these is true.”
“What is true is that the Ebola virus did not break out from within Nigeria; it was imported into Nigeria. What is true is that we have followed all the contacts that we know who have had primary and secondary contacts with the patient who imported the virus into our state, or with people who had contact with him.”
The Governor said the capacity of the State to combat the disease was increasing daily.
“We are determined to do everything not to get to that stage; because of the grave consequences to the safety of human lives. We have provided information to the public on all state-owned media, while the private media have commendably joined in this effort. There is also information available on the social media platform,” he said.
“That resolve is demonstrated by the courage shown by the first set of health workers at state and federal levels who stood up to be counted, and the leadership of the state and federal Ministries of Health with the support of our international partners. In spite of fear, they stood up to be counted at a time of grave danger. We should salute their courage, professionalism, patriotism and humanitarian disposition. They are the heroes and heroines that we have looked for a long time. I cannot thank them enough.
“While we are doing everything to assure their safety and to give them confidence to proceed, I want to passionately appeal that we must not do anything to distract them or demotivate them. What they need now is our encouragement and support to gain even stronger control of the situation. What they do not need are rumours and the distractions that they can bring with them.”
He assured family of Ebola patients that government would do it best, while stating: “I understand that you expect special care for your loved ones, and this is to be expected. I assure you that they are receiving the best care that the experts have recommended to us, given the circumstances; because they say that this is the best way to proceed especially because experienced personnel in Ebola containment and management have always been a challenge.”
The state governor advised those seeking to raise funds to hold on, saying: “I must also say to those who are seeking to raise funds that we appreciate your concerns but we are not yet at a fund raising stage and I cannot foresee that eventuality. For now, the state has enough resources to fund everything that is needed. This is what your taxes can do in emergencies. Our House of Assembly has thankfully approved a request for any needed expenditure.
“The President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Honourable Minister for Health have shown the appropriate level of concern about the national and global risks that this poses and I am sure they will provide funds should we be unable to do so, if we ask for it.”