News
Lassa Fever: Ebonyi Doctors Protest Death Of Colleagues
Some members of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) yesterday protested the death of two of their colleagues and a nurse who died of the Lassa fever virus.
The deceased medical officers, whose names were given as Dr Abel Udor Sunday from Akwa Ibom State, Dr Felix Ali from Afikpo, Ebonyi State and the nurse, Mr. Iwe Innocent, until their death, were members of staff of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA).
One of the doctors and other officers were said to have carried out operation on a patient who turned out to be a carrier of Lassa fever about three weeks earlier. The patient was said to have spread the disease to the health officers that worked on him but he survived.
The protesting doctors, armed with placards with various inscriptions, marched from the FETHA 1 to the front of Government House, Abakaliki, where they were addressed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health Services, Dr Sunday Nwangele.
The aggrieved doctors, led by NMA treasurer, Dr Onwe Oliver Mbam, lamented that the deaths were avoidable. Dr. Mbam said that if the Federal Government had done the needful in the Virology Centre built and handed over to the Federal Government, the deaths might not have occurred.
In the words of Mbam, “From 2015, Lassa fever has been killing health workers. There has never been a year that past without us losing minimum of two or three health workers,” he lamented.
“It has been like that till after last year’s occurrence, the Ebonyi State Governor took a drastic action and built a virology centre in FETHA and equipped it. He invited the Minister for Health to commission it.
“We understood that on the request of the governor for the payment of the money he spent, the presidency said that they would rather use the money to make that place functional. But till date, as we speak with you, that place is not functional.
“That was the place that our colleagues were taken to when they contacted this deadly virus. Dr Felix Ali and Dr Abel Sunday spent a day there; the nurse spent about four days there before they died,” he added.
Addressing the protesters, Dr Sunday Nwangele, disclosed that the state government would be taking drastic actions to make the Virology Centre functional.
“The governor is inviting an expert with his team who have managed another Virology Centre to move into this place and take over the virology centre. I have been directed to call Prof. Omilagbo of Lagos University Teaching Hospital and he has consented to it.
“Any moment from today, Prof. Omilagbo will arrive the state with his team and manage this present outbreak for a month or two. In the course of doing that, whatever that is not functional, he will put it to use,” he explained.
However, at a press briefing held at FETHA 2, the NMA leadership disclosed that from 2000 –2018 the state has lost more than 40 health workers and uncountable health workers to Lassa fever disease.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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