Health Workers Most Vulnerable To Ebola Virus – UPTH CMD

The Chief Medical
Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof. Aaron Ojule has declared that health workers in the country are the most vulnerable to the Ebola virus which is presently a global threat.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) stated this at the auditorium of the hospital during a one day sensitisation programme organised by the management of the hospital on the prevention, control and awareness campaign on the Ebola virus.
Speaking at the seminar, the CMD, said the sensitisation was to equip health workers on how to handle potential cases of the deadly epidemic, in view of their occupational hazards. He lamented the loss of professional colleagues to the deadly virus and stated that every patient to the hospital would be treated as a potential Ebola suspect.
As part of measures to contain the Ebola virus, the CMD said UPTH was partnering with the federal and state governments on measures to tackle the disease.
He said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had commenced a process for effective diagnostic control of the disease and assured that the hospital would live up to its responsibility to address health challenges.
In his presentation, a resource person, Dr. Sunny Chinenye said the Ebola disease was on a high mortality rate of about 50 to 90% especially in the West African subregion.
Dr. Chinenye who is a consultant physician called for improved personal hygiene especially at the domestic front to lessen the risk of contracting the disease.
Also speaking, another resource person Dr. Awopeju Tamitayo, called for proper preventive measure to avert the spread of the Ebola virus.
She called on the government to be proactive in the implementation of its strategic plans to rid the country of the disease.
In her presentation, Dr. Omosivie Maduka, who spoke on the prevention and control measures called for safe waste disposal and other environmental best practices to check the outbreak of the Ebola disease.
She also sensitized the health workers on the importance of Universal measures which include the use of personal protective Equipments, and sanitizers to prevent the transmission of the disease.

Bonny women displaying treated mosquito nets donated by Julius Berger at the Bonny General Hospital, recently.

Taneh Beemene