This development, as announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, makes the patient, a female medical personnel, the first Nigerian Ebola case to be declared fit and discharged from an isolation ward.
Chukwu told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the
patient, whose identity was not revealed, was asked to go home after all the necessary medical examinations were carried out to ascertain her fitness.
The minister, who gave further details on the Ebola situation, said, “The total number of Ebola cases now stands at 12, while the number of deaths remains four. The people under surveillance in Lagos are now 189, while six are in Enugu, South East Nigeria”.
Also, the minister announced that it would not be in any hurry to begin treating patients with any of the experimental drugs until they are verified and cleared by the country’s National Health Research Ethics Committee.
This is to save the country any calamity, even as questions over the safety and suitability of Nano Silver, one the experimental Ebola drugs purportedly produced by a Nigerian and approved earlier for testing, was queried by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The minister disclosed that it failed the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.
He, however, gave indication that the ethics committee would not be pressured into making hasty decisions on the drugs, to avoid mistakes that may turn costly.
The minister also held a closed door meeting with members of families of the affected persons with the aim of dousing their apprehension over the condition of their people while under surveillance.
He has also assured that the Federal Government has concluded all arrangements for the disbursement of all of its obligations towards containing the outbreak, beginning next week.
He said a new 40-bed ward has been opened and all the seven remaining patients had been moved in, to ensure they get the best treatment.
Commissioner of Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris, told our correspondent that the doctor was able to recover because her immunity was high at the time of contact with the late Liberian, Patrick Sawyer,
“We gave her basically the same treatment others were given and she showed the greatest and fastest improvement; her discharge is based on WHO Protocol, that certified her fir to return home to her family”, Idris stated.
Idris told Sunday Independent, “It goes to show that Ebola Virus Disease is not a death sentence”.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ruled out any likely diplomatic rows between Nigeria and any country that has been hit by the virus.
Speaking to Sunday Independent, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ogbole Odeh, said that the Federal Government has since engaged the diplomatic community intimidating them of its efforts to tackle and manage the Ebola virus from spreading to which they were satisfied.
He said the ministry organized a meetings between Mr. President and the governors as well as the diplomatic community; and another one organized by his ministry, where the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, took time to explain what was being done since the index case was reported in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government has put in place measures to guide against any form of diplomatic row,” he said.
Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria, Prof. Al-Hassan Conteh, who also ruled out any diplomatic row over the recent Ebola outbreak, explained that the President of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Jonhson-Sirleaf, has declared a state of emergency in Liberia effective from August 6, to institute extraordinary measures in combating the disease.
“The measures are indeed extraordinary, even to the extent that it is reflected in our constitution, of curbing certain rights of individuals,” he stated while appealing for social enlightenment campaigns in view of alleged stigmatization of Liberians in Nigeria.
Also, Deputy High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Major General Alfred Nelson-Williams (rtd), who noted that his country has got 130 survivors from the disease, called for called for cooperation among countries to successfully fight the Ebola disease.
“Our President, Alex Koroma, has declared a state of emergency to take a more remorseful approach to deal with the issue of Ebola outbreak.
In fact, he even cancelled his trip to the US for this Africa-US Summit and he has also travelled to Guinea to meet with his colleague-counterpart, for them to come out with good strategies on how to fight it.
“And he has also activated a National Response to fight Ebola in Phase II and has also tasked the Presidential Task Force, which is in the command for its implementation.
“And all-epic centers have been quarantined; no going in, no going out, even people traveling in and out of Sierra Leone have to be tested and also charged the police to provide adequate protections for NGOs and to restrict movement.
“Also, people with suspected Ebola have been in surveillance and public gathering has been suspended, unless essentially pertain to Ebola.
“And parliament has been recalled and cancellation of foreign trips, except absolute engagement and we have put in place between 60 and 90 days to watch people.
“And what we did is that apart from this these things, our country felt that this thing has some other spiritual inputs.
“So, he has called on the nation for them to be at home, for them to reflect, get education and then to pray.
“So, people are praying constantly, not just think about the medical aspect; let us think about God because God comes first.”
Already, ECOWAS has set up a Solidarity Fund to fight the disease and has solicited the support and contributions of Member States and development partners to the Fund to rid the region of the virus.
Considering the cross-border nature of the epidemic and the risk of its spread, Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toba Mcintosh, reiterated continued commitment to support Member States in confronting this deadly virus.
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