The Nigeria Medical Association has urged government to ensure that passengers coming to the country from West African natio
ns are properly checked during Christmas period to prevent the reintroduction of the Ebola virus disease into the country.
The Chairman of the NMA in Osun State, Dr. Suraj Ogunyemi, gave this advice on Wednesday in Osogbo at a press conference to usher in the 2014 physicians’ week.
Ogunyemi lauded the Federal Government, states and others who rose up to battle the Ebola virus when it was brought to Nigeria by an Liberian, Patrick Sawyer.
He said, ” The World Health Organisation has since October 20th declared Nigeria Ebola free. The unity of purpose and collaboration across nations, states, local government areas, individuals and group as well as as international agencies was unprecedented. This has shown that Nigerians can do a lot to change the world if we can come together irrespective of ethnic and religious differences to tackle problems confronting our nation.
” Notwithstanding, we must realise that the threat of importation of the EVD into the country is very much abundant. EVD could be imported from travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea to Nigeria, especially through Nigerians who work there and would return by road especially during Christmas.
” It can also be reintroduced by traders who travel across the nations of West Africa. So, government must ensure that our boarders, sea ports and air ports are manned by health officials with adequate devices to check those coming into the country.”
The NMA boss added that fitness certificate should be demanded from the travelers to ensure that he nation is protected against the deadly virus.
Ogunyemi also warned Nigerians to guard themselves against other deadly haemorrhagic fever: lassa, yellow and dengue fever which he sad had become endemic in the country.
The NMA boss said any form of fever which refused to g after two days should be taken to hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Ogunyemi said that Nigeria was blessed with competent medical practitioners who ranked among the best in the world, saying the neglect of the health sector was one of the reasons wealthy Nigerians traveled abroad for medical treatment.
While urging Nigerian leaders to fund the Health sector properly, he called on Nigerians to elect leaders who were passionate about effecting positive changes in the health sector because of its importance.
Speaking on the crisis in the health sector, Ogunyemi said that doctors would not accede to the demand of the Joint Health Sector Unions that their members should be given consultancy status.
He described the call as not only being outrageous but tragic. He called on Nigerians to resist the move which he said would cause confusion in the health sector.
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