Ebola Outbreak: Lagos set to deploy health workers to Sierra Leone

The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it was finalising arrangements to deploy some health workers who helped in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state to Sierra Leone.

The Governor, Babatunde Fashola, made the announcement in Ikeja while speaking at a programme to commemorate the 2,700 days of his administration in office.

The governor said the health workers were to replicate the state’s containment strategies in Sierra-Leone.

Mr. Fashola said although Nigeria was, as of now, free from the disease, there was still the risk of new infections from cross-border movements.

He, therefore, said the state’s planned mission to Sierra Leone was not only to assist the country to overcome the great health challenge, but also reduce the risk of the disease to countries within the sub-region.

Sierra Leone accounts for a substantial number of the over 4,000 global Ebola deaths.

“Lagos is free from Ebola, Nigeria is free from Ebola. But that does not mean there cannot be another case. For as long as people are moving from countries to countries, the risk of infections is still there,” Mr. Fashola said.

“That is why I appeal to the Federal Government to continue to scrutinise people traveling into Nigeria from land, sea and air from regions where the problem is still ravaging.

“That is why some of the things the commissioner for health will be announcing very soon is the arrangements we are making to send some of our health workers and volunteers to go and help out in Sierra Leone.

“That is the only way we, the whole of Africa and the World can be safe.”

(NAN)