FG approves N200m for Lagos, U.S govt donates 30 body scanners

                       EX-GOV. PETER OBI UNDERGOES SCREENING FOR EBOLA AT ABUJA AIRPORT RECENTLY

Government has approved the release of N200 million to the Lagos State government towards assisting it in the campaign to curb the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister noted that the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to assist the Lagos State government, which is the centre of the outbreak of the disease, was in line with the commitment of the administration to tackle Ebola and halt its further spread to other parts of the country.

Chukwu also disclosed that the United States’ government in support of Federal Government’s efforts to check spread of Ebola virus, has donated 30 body scanners.

The scanners that will measure temperature of travelers moving in and out of the country, he said, will soon be deployed to major entry points across the country.

He said: “Mr. President has approved the release N200 million to Lagos State government as FG’s direct support to the state government’s efforts to fight Ebola virus. Also, the US government has announced the donation of 30 body scanners for measuring temperature to be deployed to points of entry and exist in the country.

“As at today Nigeria has had 12 cases of Ebola which include the index case, the Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer and 11 Nigerians who were primary contacts with the one index case. Of this 12, the total number of successful cases who have been discharged stands at five but the number of deaths including the index case stands at five dead.

“The latest death occurred Tuesday evening and that is the death of the most senior doctor, senior consultant/physician/endrocologist at First Consultant Hospital Lagos, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh.

“Regrettably she lost her life to Ebola virus. Of course she contacted the disease from the Liberian-American who exported the disease to Nigeria.

“Indeed she had to physically restrain this infected person from escaping from hospital when the later attempted to do so having been communicated that he was Ebola positive”.