Edo Inaugurates Ebola Control Committee

Edo State Rapid Response Committee on Ebola outbreak was inaugurated Monday morning by the State Commissioner for Health.

In her address, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga, said the committee is one of the largest committees ever set up by the state government, an indication of the seriousness and importance attached to preventing the spread of Ebola in the state.

“You will agree with me that since the unfortunate importation of the deadly Ebola virus disease by the American/Liberian, Dr. Patrick Sawyer on 20 July, 2014, the disease has been declared a serious national emergency requiring all hands to be on the deck to prevent, control and isolate those our unfortunate brothers and sisters that come down with the illness. This committee is a critical step in the prevention, control, isolation and treatment of cases of the disease.”

A quarantine team for Ebola

She said membership of the committee was carefully chosen to reflect the diversity in unity and strength to tackle the enormous challenge posed by Ebola disease, adding that the committee was set up to create awareness on the seriousness and the contagious nature of the deadly disease.

The committee is made up of representatives from the state Ministries of Health, Environment, Women Affairs, Local Government, Education, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Medical Association, the state Traditional Medicine Board, the DSS and others.

Terms of reference of the committee include review and approve the epidemic preparedness and response plan, mobilise resources for epidemic prevention and control, coordinate and monitor control activities during outbreaks, including information dissemination to the public and media, and others.

 Earlier, the state Commissioner for information, Louis Odion, solicited for collaboration by the media in dissemination of accurate information to members of the public.

“Ebola is not a death sentence. We don’t have any Ebola  case in the state, but the governor insisted that we set up this committee to be on the safe side,” he said.

Also in his presentation, the Director, Edo State  Hospital Service, Dr. Osamwuyi Irowa, said the inauguration of the committee was apt, in view of the strategic location of the state and the hospitable nature of the people of the state.