The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians not to panic over the outbreak of Ebola virus in the country. The NOA Assistant Director, Medical Orientation Programme, Dr. Ayoola Olufemi, made this plea in an interview in Abuja on Monday. Olufemi said that NOA was sensitising Nigeria to stem the spread of virus across the country. He described Ebola as a global threat and a national emergency as far as Nigeria is concerned.“The Ebola virus must be tackled headlong and this is being done by government at various levels.”
Olufemi called on Nigerians not to panic as the nation comes to terms with Ebola virus.“It is a reality that the virus is here with us and what we need to do is to take precautionary measure against the virus.
“Panic is not the solution to Ebola, Nigerians are not supposed to panic. All we have to do is that we have to walk toward the containment of spread through public enlightenment,” he said.
According to him, people should know that this is a virus that is new to us, the virus is deadly and very infectious and can kill within days.
“The only way to protect ourselves from getting the virus is to increase our personal hygiene, environmental hygiene and report any cases of illness immediately.” He listed the symptoms of Ebola to include fever, headache, sour throat, body pain, weakness, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea.
Olufemi called on Nigerians to have high index of suspicion and report anybody that was ill or people who had visited Liberia, Sierra Leone or Republic of Guinea to the authorities.
He said NOA Director-General, Mr. Mike Omeri, had directed state directors to participate in national effort to contain the virus by disseminating information that could help the public curtail the spread.
“NOA is also in the presidential steering committee that is working on effective advocacy and dissemination of information.
“We have started working and you know that this is an emergency and the response is going on gradually, day by day people will become aware of what they should do to protect themselves against this ravaging virus,” he said.
He said NOA would ensure that information on the fight against the virus and how the citizenry could be protected reach every community in the country.
