Dame Amaechi, UNICEF Hold Ebola Sensitilsation Campaign

A Non-Government Organization, Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) founded by the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Dame Judith Amaechi, in collaboration with United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday held a sensitization forum on dreaded Ebola virus ahead of the September 22, 2014 school resumption date across the country.
The NGO, who also collaborated with the Rivers State Ministry of Health drew participants from teachers for selected nursery and primary schools and women leaders in the 23 council areas of the state.
In her address, founder of the NGO and wife of the governor, Dame Judith Amaechi, said it was necessary to sensitize the teachers and mothers on Ebola virus ahead of schools’ resumption due to the peculiar nature of the children.
”Our growing concern is on the safety of our children whenever they return to school. This growing concern to mothers and parents has become very worrisome, especially on how to keep the children safe from the virus”, she said.
Mrs. Amaechi, who was represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader, Caroline Nagbo, said it would be disastrous to families if children contract the virus.
She enjoined women to redouble their effort in sanitizing their environment as a surest measure of preventing the disease.
“I initiated a door-to-door campaign on environmental sanitation. The objective was to inculcate and imbibe a culture of cleanliness, good hygiene and healthy living to prevent outbreak of the dreaded disease at home”, she noted.
She warned against stigmatization against suspects of the virus, adding that suspects may evade medical examination if they are ignored by the society.
Chief of Field Office, Enugu, UNICEF, Charles Izuku said it was necessary to handle children’s safety as top priority in an effort to check the Ebola virus due to their vulnerability and susceptibility to the infection, and pledged UNICEF’s determination to partner the body in effort to stamp out Ebola.
On his part, Dr Yahaya Disu of Ebola Prevention and Control Centre said the virus has been curtailed in the state, and added that the centre has consulted with general hospitals in the state to resume treatment of all patients irrespective of the illness,
Disu, who joined in the call against stigmatization, said it would become a barrier against the fight on the virus, if not properly handled.
In his presentation, an occupational health nurse, Mr. Alozie Enyinnaya, called for caution as the virus has the capacity to hide in the semen of affected persons even after treatment.
The state health education officer, Dr. Doris Nria, stated that the Rivers State Government has provided the health workers and medical personnel all logistics needed to combat the virus, and dismissed rumours that doctors in the state are ignoring to treat patients for fear of Ebola infection.