THERE is high nervousness in the land due to reported cases of Ebola. Even among medical personnel, the situation is not different, especially with the death of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the senior consultant endocrinologist, who became infected with the deadly Ebola virus while treating the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer. As it is now, some health managers, who should help in managing the diseases, are shying away from their primary responsibility for fear of being infected.
Already, there are rumours that some hospitals are now sending away patients suspected to have traits of the Ebola virus. Visits to some of these hospitals indicate that patients, who exhibit symptom associated with malaria, typhoid fever, including those vomiting are usually advised by doctors to go home to manage their sickness. This it was learnt has left patients with no option than to settle for self-medication, taking all sorts of drugs without prescription.
On what could be responsible for the situation, Dr. Francis Duru, Associate Professor, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, argued that because many of these hospitals know that Ebola virus is highly contagious, most private hospitals may be avoiding patients because they lack facilities like isolation or quarantine units, personal protection equipment (PPE) and trained personnel to carry out the necessary care.
“Secondly, laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis requires equipment, reagents and trained personnel that most hospitals don’t have. It would have been a disaster if the index case had been treated in any of the many run-of-the- mill private hospitals in Lagos.
“While the response of many hospitals may encourage self medication, an intense health enlightenment campaign should be mounted to educate the general public on how the infection is acquired and transmitted and how to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. Private hospitals must take a look at their routine procedures and ensure that all avenues for spreading infections in a hospital environment are plugged and a protocol for handling febrile illnesses and suspicious Ebola cases are put in place.”
Duru noted that specialised designated places for handling Ebola cases are known to the hospitals for quick referral of suspected cases, adding that the idea is to avoid affected people from self-medication and contacts with others.
“There is no beneficial value in self medication in Ebola cases. And for each day, an Ebola patient stays at home, family and all contacts are endangered.”
According to Dr. C. P. Azubuike, Director Agape-Link Innovations Limited, Lagos, “It is true that most hospitals are avoiding patients suspected to be having Ebola related symptoms, but not patients with no Ebola related symptoms, otherwise they will close down till Ebola scare is over.”
He also stated that most medical personnel are not well trained in managing people with Ebola virus disease (EVD) while the hospitals lack the facilities to manage such cases.
“The management requires intensive supportive care and patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids, so many medical personnel are required for such management.”
While condemning the action of some medical professionals, who are in the habit of sending suspected patients home, Azubuike is optimistic that Ebola will be a thing of the past in the next few months is the current procedure is sustained.
“All the cases so far are traceable to the index case of Patrick Sawyer. The level of awareness and enlightenment on EVD among Lagosians is also encouraging,” he said.
The implications of self-medication, according to health experts, include incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice when needed, infrequent but severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect manner of administration, incorrect dosage, incorrect choice of therapy, masking of a severe disease and risk of dependence and abuse, drug interactions, medications abuse or dependence, misdiagnosis and incorrect choice of treatment.
Academy Of Science Supports Fight Against Epidemic
By Gbenga Akinfenwa
THE Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has promised to support the government to end the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the country.
It also showed its optimism that Nigeria, if it makes full use of available material and human resources, is capable of controlling further spread of the outbreak.
President of the academy, Oyewale Tomori, said prior to the importation of EVD from Liberia, the Academy had, through its President, worked with the Minister of Health and those working with him on the need to protect her borders through screening of returning travelers from affected countries as well as conducting follow-up checks on them.
He said the efforts at containing the disease have paid off.
“The Academy continues to provide advice on surveillance and laboratory issues, even as a Fellow of the Academy serves as rapporteur on the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa convened by the Director General of the WHO,” he said.
He said there was no need for panic but urge the public to cooperate with relevant health authorities. He said though the EVD is a deadly but that patients stand a good chance of survival if identified early for supportive management.
“The control of EVD involves critical management of the information in the public domain. The press must be actively engaged as critical stakeholders to ensure accurate and appropriate information dissemination. The media houses must also seek ways to partner with government in ensuring that accurate information and IEC materials are widely disseminated,” he stated.
‘To Boost Immunity Against Contagion Take Fruit, Vegetable’
By Kamal Tayo Oropo
The Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Lagos State Chapter, has urged Nigerians to include fruits and vegetables in their diet to boost their immune system to fight the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Chairperson of the society, Dr Abimbola Ajayi, made the suggestion at the commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week and inauguration of the Lagos State chapter at the weekend.
The Ebola Virus attacks the immune system, which provides defence to the human body.
Ajayi said: “Since there is no known cure presently for the disease, the goal of nutrition care therefore, is to protect and boost the immunity among other care provided for affected persons.
“People must ensure that they take foods that are high antioxidants, majorly foods rich in vitamins and minerals in their daily meals.
“Take yellow fruits, red fruits and vegetables to boost immunity and fight Ebola Virus in the country.”
She also decried the low breastfeeding practices and the use of inappropriate complementary foods.
Presently, According to her, the breastfeeding rate in the country is put at 17 per cent, which according to Ajayi is unacceptable.
“The low breastfeeding rate in our country has contributed to the high rate of malnourished, under-weight, stunted and wasted children as well as high rate of under-five mortality.
“Exclusive breastfeeding reduces 13 per cent of all under-five deaths, thereby helping us to achieve Millennium Development Goal one and four.
“Researches have also proven that exclusive breastfeeding increases the chances of a child`s survival, physical and brain development,’’ she said.
Also speaking, the National President of the Society, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, said exclusive breastfeeding would help a child grow into a healthy adult.
Nnam, who was represented by Chairman, Scientific and Technical Committee of NSN, Dr. Bartholomew Brai, said there was the need for collective efforts to encourage and promote exclusive breast-feeding.
Ovoteri Mentor Students To Combat Disease
By Ikechukwu Onyewuchi
In an effort to ensure that they are well-informed, health-conscious and safe when the new school term resumes, Ovoteri Limited, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) company, have sensitised students of District 3 of the Lagos State Education Board on the realities of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which have put the state on a medical red alert in recent weeks.
The seminar, a part of a month long training programme for Junior and Senior School students by the Lagos State Government, focused on leadership skills, career selection, Ebola Virus Disease and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Held on Tuesday at Akande Dahunsi Memorial School, Osborne, Ikoyi, the event featured talks by experts from Ovoteri Limited, Sahara Group Limited, Medical International Support Services Limited (MEDISS), all charging the students to be responsible, health conscious and hardworking leaders.
The Manager Director Ovoteri Limited, Ovwe Sowho-Fufeyin, said the initiative was to partner with the state government to create awareness, train the students on leadership skills and guide them to make the right career choices, noting that the incident of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) called for a collective effort by government and private bodies to get word across to Nigerians, especially through children, who naturally “have unansweed questions.”
She said, “traditionally, we cater to the CSR activities of companies, but, today, we are focused on education, on teaching leadership skills, career selection principles, CPR, as well as educate the students on Ebola Virus Disease. We felt it was important to work with the state government and our partners like Sahara Energy Group and MEDISS to create awareness and even go beyond that to educate the students on career prospects available to them when they leave school.
“Also, we want to give them an avenue to ask questions. The information might be there in public, in publications and on televisions, but these students cannot really ask questions on areas they don’t understand. We want to make sure they are knowledgeable and that they spread this information to their friends and families. This is the avenue for them to do so. This is our avenue to give back to the society. In fact, in September we will be having a programme we termed Teach a Teacher, Teach a Student, Teach a Subject. All are efforts to improve the schools.”
Speaking on leadership skills, Seyi Ojurongbe, from Sahara Group Limited, noted that leadership was beyond the scope political office holders and entertainment stars, arguing that leadership was more of an action than a position.
In the course of the session, he noted that, “if an action is not for positive change, it is not leadership. People try to be effective leaders, but only few have truly passed the test of true leadership. He further went on to stress that leadership was more about character than strategy, more of proactive effort, urging the students to be responsible, responsive and passionate leaders.
Nonetheless, MEDISS, a CPR and First Aid Company, took the students on the gains of being health conscious, appropriate measures to take in times of emergency, and how to administer CPR to save lives in schools, homes and the larger community.
However, a participant and student of Government Senior College, Maroko, Chinonso Okolie, said that the programme has given him new ideas about leadership, a career path and on how to be careful and safe in these times of Ebola. “I now know that leadership is beyond a position but rather the acts of those in the position of authority,” he enthused.
A counselor at Falomo High school, Austin Onwuasoanya, who was full of excitement at the end of the seminar, submitted that he was impressed by the turnout of students, even in holiday period, while commending the district head, principals and Ovoteri Limited and its partners for the initiative.
According to him, “The students have been made to understand the true essence of leadership. In fact, the position here – which is largely true, by the way – is that leadership is what people in position are doing not just the positions per se. We found out most of the students do not know where they are going after leaving secondary school. This is sad.
“Through this, however, they are guided on how to go through the right class and do the right things to achieve their desired goals.”
He noted that the impact and involvement of counselors have been underestimated over the years, arguing for the deployment of at least two counselors to schools. “I teach in class and counsel students on the side. Teaching alone is enormous; combining it with counseling means the level of involvement with students will be inadequate,” he said.
Group Seeks Postponement Of NBA Conference
From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
As a result of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) scare and its toll on patients since the virus came into Nigeria by the index case, past chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in Imo State, under the aegis, Committee of Past Chairmen Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, have risen from their extra ordinary meeting in Imo State, calling on the national leadership of the NBA to postpone the national conference of the association scheduled to commence today at the Imo International Conference Centre, Owerri.
In a statement issued in Owerri at the weekend and signed by the duo of Chief N. B. E. Nwigwe (Chairman) and Ama Akalonu (Secretary), the group noted the need for the national body of the association to adhere to the call by the Federal Government to groups to suspend large gathering of people, adding NBA should rather join hands to control the spread of the deadly virus.
“We are all witnesses to the scourge of Ebola disease in our country Nigeria and government effort to combat it and prevent its spread. The world Health Organisation has declared an international emergency as a result of the virus. A national emergency has been declared in Nigeria, and the Federal Government has issued directives to prevent its spread,” the statement reads.
The group maintained that, “In view of this grave situation, we the past chairmen of this branch in our meeting of August 20, 2014 join the call for the postponement of the said conference in line with government effort to stop the spread of the virus.
“This conference is one most of us looked forward to and prepared for. However, the health and lives of lawyers and Nigerians at this trying moment should, in our informed opinion, remain paramount.”
Meanwhile, the state government has been making last minute preparation for the hosting of the delegates and members of the association. Already, the conference venue is wearing a new look in preparation for the conference.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Chukwuma Machukwu Umeh, told journalists on Friday that the state governor would host the delegates to a cocktail on Sunday, August 24, adding that health precautionary measures, in line with international protocol, would be observed as the NBA members arrive the state.
“People should not panic,” he assured.
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