‘Nigeria Should Develop More Treatment Centres, Not Celebrate Over Ebola’

•  Post Written by Emeka Anuforo, www.ngrguardiannews.com/

RATHER than celebrate the containment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Nigeria should begin to build more treatment centres across the country, River state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, said Friday.

  Parker, who spoke at the Treatment Research Group Expert meeting in Abuja Friday, also said the nation should draw from the Ebola experience and sincerely plan and budget for healthcare in the country.

  He told newsmen: “I am saddened that instead of us developing more treatment centres and more preparedness, we are relaxing, jubilating, celebrating successes. I don’t think it is yet time to celebrate. A lot of treatment centres are being shut down because it takes funds to keep them running.

  “Epidemic management is on the exclusive list of the federal government. So, the Federal Ministry of Health must come in, not only to maintain these treatment centres but to develop other ones in the country. We cannot predict where this thing will come in through. The potential of having another one is very high. It is there and presents danger.”

    He emphasised the need for the country to need to strengthen its preparedness for another outbreak. “We need to get the testing laboratories on, train more persons to man these centres, build more, improve on the ones that are existing; not only in one state but across the federation.”

  On Nigerians volunteering to assist other endemic countries, he described it as a good step.

  He stated: “Going there doesn’t portend danger. The federal government has taken a good leadership. It is a very good development. The persons that are going from Nigeria are already trained to combat Ebola.
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