Issues

Ebola: South-East Strategies On Preventive Measures

Published

10 years ago

August 15, 2014

The Ebola virus scare had put
the Anambra State in a frenzy; and the South East caught the fever. The scare was on the faces of the people; they couldn’t stop talking about this “latest deadly visitation.” The buzz was virtually everywhere. With arms akimbo, long forlorn faces, people huddled in corners just to talk and with shuddering resignation, exchanges uninformed conclusion on the “impending Armageddon.” The talks continued at various homes, in the motor parks, offices, churches and hospitals.
In the one week that the uncertainty reigned, while six people waited in apprehension in the hospital for coming in contact with suspected human remains, the fear was couched in the dreadful realization that “no one even knows how to contract this thing.” While the thought that “this disease could be transmitted by a mere touch was incomprehensible,” the inclusion of the “bush meat,” a choice dish in most part of the South East as a link was seen as manageable. Many swore to forgo the delicacy. The fragility of the unfolding scenario led to more fears, anxiety, confusion, conflicting prognosis.
Few people wanted to shake hands with anyone that works in a hospital. Few people looked eager to shake hands. No one dared contemplate the thought of contracting a disease with no known cure, yet.
“This is a life style changing situation that is blowing out before us,” said a curious health worker at the Anambra State Ministry of Health. “Even if you can turn a blind eye to the bush meat, how do you avoid body contact or the traditional handshake. If there is an outbreak in this zone, there will be chaos. People at too closely knit and families will be wiped out,” he said.
The evolving questions didn’t offer immediate answers. For example: Does anyone run a risk when they touch money handled by someone infected by Ebola? What happens when passengers bump into one another in a bus? How much contact with a victim can guarantee safety?
The questions grew, alongside the Ebola lore. First, there was a quiet resignation that there was Ebola in the air, and everyone was breathing it. Last Friday, it was said that a bomb was exploded somewhere, dispersing the virus. Most men, even without any contact are perpetually chewing bitter kola, with one or two more in their pockets. Said Chuks Nwoke, a property speculator in Enugu, “we are told that an ingredient in bitter kola can suppress the Ebola virus.”
Then, the rumour of the salted warm water therapy, which no one could ascertain its source broke out as a way to prevent Ebola. A medical doctor in Enugu said “there is nothing wrong in bathing with warm water,” while he dismissed as “hogwash” the idea that it could prevent Ebola.
People in Ebonyi, which has remained quiet since the scare broke out, were jolted like many others in other states in the morning of Friday about warm salted water. The State Health Commissioner Dr. Sunday Nwangele, dismissed the claim and said: “We have asked people to ignore such messages.”
A housewife said that she has asked her husband to buy gloves for their children, while she warned her husband not to touch the children when he is home from work until he has taken his bath. At a commercial bank in Enugu, customers deserted a particular teller after she left her counter briefly and returned with gloves. She aroused unspecified suspicions, none the customers wanted to explain.
To put a perspective on the strength of Ebola, it was compared with HIV and kidnapping. A prominent billionaire in Anambra joked that he was relocating to Enugu because kidnappers and his enemies could find a dreadful use for this Ebola to hunt their victims. No one lives with Ebola, but there are people living with HIV.
In Anambra, the Ebola scare, reportedly, nearly reignited the ancient war between the Aguleri and Umueri communities, in Anambra East Council. Both communities have been locked in a bloody war for decades. Famed as the longest war over ancestral lands in Nigeria, the war has been fought in trenches, farms, the Supreme Court in 1984 and the Privy Council long before Nigeria gained independence. And despite the several peace moves, a mutual air of suspicion continues to reign in both communities.
The primordial elements in that suspicion rose to the fore when on August 22, 2014, the six men, who were suspected to have come in contact with the corpse of one Ikechukwu Charles Okoye, the man, who was suspected to have been a victim of Ebola, were quarantined at the Umueri General Hospital. Immediately the news filtered from the Hospital, some youths in Umueri became restive. They quickly summed that the development should be regarded as part of the ancient war, this time declared by the State Governor, Willy Obiano, an Aguleri man. The major question was: “Has the governor decided to further decimate the Umueri population by bringing and infecting them with the deadly Ebola virus?” And, “why did the Government decide to use the Umueri General Hospital for the quarantine?”
According to the youths, there were better equipped hospitals in the neighborhood. An Umueri man in government who would not want to be mentioned said, “this might sound stupid to an outsider but it is not stupid to an Umueri man. Certainly, the Aguleri people would have nursed the same apprehension that the youths are quietly nursing. Why didn’t they go to the Charles Borromeo Hospital or the General Hospital in Onitsha. There is also the General Hospital in Iyienu, in Ogidi. These hospitals have better facilities in terms of equipment and manpower than what is available in Umueri.” While the speculations that the apprehension was building towards a protest by the youths thrived, the anxiety eased last week when the State Ministry of Health released the six persons restricted at the Umueri hospital.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, who conducted the release, said that the men were discharged after they showed no signs of being infected by Ebola and added emphatically that, “by this we can safely say that there is no Ebola in Anambra, for now.”
The men have been restricted since August 1st after they came in contact on July 22 with the remains of Okoye who died in Liberia on July 6, was flown to Lagos through Gambia Bird on July 21, arrived Anambra by road on July 22 and deposited at Apex Mortuary, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in Oyi Council.
A source in the state Ebola investigation team said, “during the period of their restriction, we didn’t notice any signs of the symptoms. The blood tests also support our observations and during this period, we didn’t notice any change in their body temperatures.”
However, the air of optimism is being relished with caution in some quarters as the state ministry of health awaits the results of tests carried out on the tissue taken from the human remains. “The blood tests are usually faster than the tests on the tissues. Tissues require extensive tests. We are waiting for the results from the tissue test from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH),” said the source.
Although the responses from some state governments followed almost immediately, it is uncertain if it has matched the fears of a citizenry, dwelling in the dark and relying on pure instincts to devise how to deal with an “this new disease.” Said Chike Maduekwe, lawyer and politician from Anambra who lives in Enugu, “we are all afraid. But we shouldn’t be paranoid about the situation considering the range of stories about the Ebola. Right now, the government should impose stricter controls at the borders and do more on information and public enlightenment. Right now, anything could be said to cause Ebola and the people don’t know what to believe.”
The immediate concern of some state governments was to respond to the fears and anxieties of the citizenry by harping on the rehabilitation of medical facilities and putting in place structures to deal with any emergencies. The response sounded as if there was already an epidemic in the South East.
In Abia, the Governor, Theodore Ahamefula Orji told the people of Abia to continue to “pray that the virus doesn’t come to Abia,” to be wary and avoid certain bush meats. In addition to the prayers, the state has designated certain hospitals across the state as Ebola centers, where anyone who showed symptoms could quickly and easily be taken to.
The Imo State Government moved quickly to compile a number of measures it has put in place to protect the citizenry from the Ebola virus. The Health Commissioner, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, while cautioning against panic by the residents, told journalists that the state government has arranged the procurement of personal protective equipment for health workers just as he warned against the consumption of such bush meats as monkeys and similar delicacies.
The Health Commissioner in Enugu State, Dr. George Eze, dismissed the presence of Ebola in the state, calling on the public not to panic but to take adequate precautions. Insisting that the state was not taking anything for granted, he said that measures have been put on the ground to guard against the disease.
“Up till now,” he said, “we have not established any Ebola case in Enugu. The threat is elsewhere across the country but we are guarding against it. We have a well trained manpower and our specialists have put heads together on how to manage the situation.”
Unsure of how to prepare for Ebola, he said, that “our best approach is to prepare ourselves to tackle this scourge if it comes. Previous ones have been contained, so we believe that this one will be contained.”
In Anambra, where all this started, the Governor, Willie Obiano ordered the state Health Ministry to acquire at least 400 Personal Protective Equipment to prevent the state health workers from contracting the virus. The Health Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike noted the inauguration of a rapid response team to handle emergencies in the health sector.
As the state kicked into action by the setting up of a committee to work out a proper response in future, a member of the committee, who is also on the state’s team that investigated the Ebola scare, said, “we want to proactive in health matters. We know that our people are well travelled, they live in various parts of the world, some in the Ebola belt, and we need to be careful.
“The process is on for the training of laboratory scientists and clinicians for the management of epidemics. We have ordered the printing of posters, pamphlets and endorsed other public enlightenment methods to educate people on Ebola.”
Akabuike, a gynaecologist, had noted that, “In Anambra, we have epidemiologists who monitor the environment and we are planning to purchase mobile ambulances and clinics to move them to areas of emphasis to enable us respond timely in case of emergencies. We are also doing public enlightenment through the media, communities and churches to keep people at alert.”
Symptoms associated with Ebola include malaria, persistent diarrhea (gastroenteritis) and fever, weakness, waist pain and bleeding from every opening in the body.
With the illness incurable, why all the activity? Akabuike said: “Although Ebola virus disease is incurable, symptomatic treatment can be given to an Ebola patient to rehabilitate the person and that is why the State government has moved to acquire personal protective equipment for health workers to protect them from contracting it.”

Kodilinye Obiagwu

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Minister of State 2 for Foreign Affairs, Mr Nurudeen Mohammed briefing Heads of Foreign Missions in Nigeria on Ebola Virus in Abuja, recently.

Issues

Investing In Nyesom Wike: A Story Of Dedication, Sacrifice And Ultimate Loss

Published

3 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

The Tide

In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Nyesom Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.
Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all twenty-three Local Governments Areas of Rivers State. I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfill his promises and agreements. Even as a former Deputy Governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit.
My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State. Yet, his leadership style of dishonesty, greed, drunkenness and rash abuse of senior citizens brought me nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.
By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero. I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, when you speak of investing in Governor Sim Fubara’s election, remember those like me who also invested in you. Remember the sacrifices I made, the risks I took, and the promises and agreements you left unfulfilled.
It is time for you, Wike, to let go of the past and allow Governor Sim Fubara the breathing space he needs to lead Rivers State forward. Allow him to focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people. Spare him these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agenda and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.
I may have lost my investment on Wike, but I have not lost hope in the future of Rivers State. And together, we will continue to strive for a brighter tomorrow.
Long Live the Governor to Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara!
Long Live the Good People of Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Engr Ikuru is former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.

Tele Ikuru

Issues

Is Okocha A Happy Man Being Perpetual Hireling?

Published

2 months ago

March 15, 2024

The Tide

The man Tony Okocha, the devastated tattered ragtag remnant Rivers APC factional, but Caretaker, Chairman, is known for being notoriously a hireling willing to play in the mud just for the pay or settlement. To Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, he did against Chief Nyesom Wike. To Senator Magnus Abe, he did against Rotimi Amaechi. To Chief Nyesom Wike, he did against Magnus Abe. Having maintained such unbefitting character trait, it is not surprising to see him at his demeaned best showing off his tainted skill of grandstanding and loquaciously struggling fruitlessly almost every day to castigate the popular Rivers people’s Governor with very glaring false, bogus and unsubstantiated claims such as:
1. That Governor Fubara is wasting state fund in the name of thanksgiving across 23 Local Government Areas.
2. That Governor Fubara has withheld Local Government funds.
3. That Governor Fubara runs the government without input from the State Executive Council.
4. That nothing is happening in the State with respect to governance.
To the above false claims of Tony Okocha, every reasonable, right thinking and well-meaning Rivers person would effortlessly puncture all as rascality and mendacity taken too far.
Apart from the fact that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had said he is not sponsoring the massive SIMplified Movement Thanksgiving events across the Local Government Areas of the State being organised by elated Rivers people who feel liberated from an era of overbearing and suppressive form of leadership in the State, Tony Okocha should be asked to prove his false claim with indisputable facts and figures. Until then, let Tony Okocha respect himself and learn to keep quiet as an elderly person who is saddled with such a responsible position as Rivers State Representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board. A position that places a huge responsibility on him to ensure that the core objectives of the commission are actualised in the State, by not only ensuring that Rivers State gets its fair share of its dues in terms of projects, programmes and activities, but by synergising with the state government on development matters concerning the state vis-a-vis the responsibilities of NDDC to the State. In summary, the SIMplified Movement is all about a happy and joyful people of Rivers State who have decided to stand and stick together to defend and uphold their common heritage and patrimony. It is a voluntary venture, not sponsored by the government.
To his claim that the Governor has withheld Local Government funds, Mr Tony Okocha should also be asked to prove that with facts and figures and explain why the Governor would do such. More so, what is Tony Okocha’s business, assuming, but not conceding, that a PDP Governor withholds money against PDP-led 23 Local Government authorities? Did Local Government workers across the state complain to Okocha, the meddlesome hireling, an acclaimed APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State?
On his ignorant and false claim that the Governor runs the government without input from the state exco, Okocha, the busybody wannabe should explain how he was employed or engaged as the spokesperson of members of the Rivers State Executive Council. He should also tell us his source of information to that effect, if it is not just a proof that he is making himself known as a perpetually irredeemable hireling notoriously good for playing the spoiler’s role.
On Mr Okocha’s assertion, probably, borne out of lack of more convincing lies, that nothing is happening in the State with respect to governance, is sure a proof that the man is only acting a bad and an unsellable script to justify the reward of expected gratifying filthy lucre, which is the compelling reason for condescending so low and evilly so. How else is governance measured, if not by executing meaningful and impactful projects, giving hope, inspiring and putting smiles on the faces of the people with joy of fulfilment in their hearts, both civil servants and everyone living and doing business in the State? Is Okocha blind to see and deaf to hear of the good works of the Governor Fubara led Rivers State Government? Civil servants are happy, teachers are highly elated. Several projects are ongoing. Investors are trooping in. The health sector, education, agriculture, sports have been highly boosted under Governor Fubara-led administration. To Okocha, there’s no governance in the State because patronage of free money is not getting to him from the Governor but from other sources that are likely against the Governor.
Let Tony Okocha weep more. Rivers State is breathing fresh air already and is liberated.
Let Tony Okocha tell us how he has, so far, as Rivers State Representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), clearly effected development in the State through the NDDC, and why he lied that there was Cholera outbreak with deaths recorded in Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area with the intent of raking in about ¦ N5billion for non-existent mitigation programmes?

Odike is Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Social/New Media .

Bernard C. Idike

Issues

Day Asari-Toru Declared Massive Support For Fubara

Published

2 months ago

March 11, 2024

The Tide

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commonly known as FDR, was an American statesman and politician who served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. He was a member of the Democratic Party and is the only United States President to have served more than two terms.
In one of his popular quotes, he said, “The creed of our democracy is that liberty is acquired and kept by men and women who are strong and self-reliant, and possessed of such wisdom as God gives mankind – men and women who are just, and understanding, and generous to others — men and women who are capable of disciplining themselves. For they are the rulers and they must rule themselves.”
This explains the recent gathering of creme la creme of Asari-Toru political gladiators converged at the inauguration of the Simplified Movement, ASALGA chapter to reiterate their unflinching support for the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara whose mantra revolves around liberation.
The event which took place at the Autograph in Port Harcourt on the 1st of March, 2024, to galvanise strong support for Governor Fubara attracted over 500 members of the Simplified Movement from the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The gathering of supporters of Governor Fubara’s government, under the umbrella of the Simplified Movement, the ASALGA chapter led by an astute politician, former member of the Federal House of Representatives and two- time member of the Rivers State Executive Council as Commissioner, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall comprised both the old and young generation political helmsmen drawn from all the 13 Wards of the local government area.
The nerve-““““““wracking gathering had the likes of the 1999 democratic system pioneer Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council and former two-time Special Adviser to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, Hon. Opakirite Mackson Jackreece; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adokiye Young-Harry; former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Daisy West and former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, Chief Hon. Iboroma Norman Wokoma.
Others were the incumbent Vice Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council, Hon. (Mrs.) Tekena Wokoma; former Commissioner of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Dr. Hope Barango; the South-West Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Sule Amachree and the Secretary of the Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Cladious Princewill; former Chief of Staff of Council, Hon. Ajumogobia West and former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ASALGA, Hon. Onari Awo Tariah.
Also present at the event were past caretaker committee chairmen of the Local Government Council including, Hon. Waite Harry, Hon. Dawari Hamilton Ibinabo, Hon. Wright Warmate and former Deputy Mayor of the Port Harcourt City Council, Hon. Adokiye Horsfall amongst others. My humble self belongs to the movement. The list is inexhaustible.
Speaking at the inauguration, the member representing Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency and leader of the Asari-Toru political family, Hon. Boma Goodhead assured the people of the commitment of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to extend visible dividends of democracy to the people of ASALGA.
The federal lawmaker who spoke through her representative, Dr. Sule Amachree, said Governor Fubara means well for Rivers people, particularly the people of ASALGA and urged them to remain calm, peaceful and resolute in their support to the administration of the State Governor.
“His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is the Governor ordained by God to liberate Rivers people from the snares of poverty and oppression. He is God-sent to bring visible and even development to Rivers State and Asari-Toru people are on the top of that agenda of development,” she said.
Hon. Goodhead reiterated her confidence in the capacity of the leader of the Simplified Movement, ASALGA chapter, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall to mobilise massive support and a huge source of encouragement for the Government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara to succeed.
“I urge you to continue to stand firm with our Governor. Be rest assured that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is a man of peace, focused and determined to deliver on the mandate given to him by the people of Rivers State. He will not fail you,” she said.
In his speech, the leader of the ASALGA chapter of the Simplified Movement, Chief Hon. Paworiso Samuel Horsfall described the movement as a child of necessity born out of the hunger of Rivers people for a paradigm shift from oppression to liberation.
“As witnessed across the length and breadth of Rivers State, the Simplified Movement is a child of necessity, born out of the hunger for a paradigm shift from oppression to liberation, with one core objective to promote and defend the interests of Rivers State and her people. It is on this account, we stand as dependable allies giving strong support to the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in his pursuit of peace and commitment to the genuine development of Rivers State.
“It is our position that with the elections come and gone, it is practically a time to face governance and to ensure deliverables of dividends to the people of Rivers State in the atmosphere of peace, security and stability,” he said.
Chief Samuel Horsfall explained that Rivers people saw the leadership qualities needed to achieve the sole objective to genuinely defend and promote the interest of the State in Governor Fubara, hence the spontaneous massive support expressed in the birth of the Simplified Movement.
He recounted avalanche of achievements made by Governor Fubara within six months in office. “We appreciate the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his resilience and determination to make a difference. It is on record and attestable by all, the numerous projects being executed by his administration.
“Such as the ongoing construction of the gigantic Port Harcourt Ring Road project, the 20,000 housing units for low income earners, the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity road, the near completion of the 10km Old Port Harcourt-Bori road, the Emohua-Kalabari road, the 6.5km Woji-Alesa-Refinery link road and the inclusion of the remaining part of the Trans-Kalabari road project in the 2024 budget. “Moreover, the promotion of the State civil servants, first time in history payment of N100,000.00 Christmas bonus to civil servants across board, approval of promotions and implementation of N30,000.00 minimum wage for local government workers and the N4 billion single digit interest loans facility for Small and Medium Scale business operators in Rivers State. All these achievements within six months in office are eloquent testimonies of Governor Fubara to deliberately improve the welfare of Rivers people.
“We are convinced that such a proven great mind and well experienced, tested and trusted administrator/technocrat, Governor Fubara has demonstrated the capacity to deliver effectively the needed democratic dividends to Rivers people. It is on this convention we are gathered here for the umpteenth time to reaffirm our unalloyed support and commitment to his administration,” Chief Samuel Horsfall declared.
He disclosed that the gathering was to put in place citizens mobilisation strategy to forge a collaborative bond with the Governor to foster partnership for the development of ASALGA and the State. He, therefore, advised those he called detractors of Governor Fubara’s administration to desist forthwith and allow the Governor to remain focused in his quest to deliver on his mandate.
“All detractors should desist from further attacks on the Governor and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie and allow the Governor to focus on the delivery of the good policies and programmes to Rivers people. We unequivocally condemn attempts by disgruntled Abuja politicians to employ intimidation antics against the former Speaker of the 10th State Assembly and current Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie and others who are standing on the path of justice and good conscience for the collective good of Rivers State.
“We equally urge the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to be discreet in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities in the State and not to allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals who do not mean well to fuel political crisis in Rivers State.
Chief Samuel Horsfall also commended the federal lawmaker, Hon. Boma Goodhead for her doggedness and resilience in supporting Governor Fubara since the wake of the political crisis in the State.
Several other personalities spoke to express their support to the State Governor and urged the people to ASALGA to maintain their peaceful disposition and remain steadfast in the Simplified Movement to give the state government maximum support to continue to render good governance to Rivers people.
Highlights of the event were the inauguration of the elders and stakeholders of the Simplified Movement for the 13 Wards as well as the executive committee of the movement in Asari-Toru Local Government Area.