Following the recent declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Nigeria had become free of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), prominent pharmacist, Pharm. Uche Eddy Igwe, has called on Nigerians to remain watchful, as the disease could still find its way back into the country if proper care is not taken.
Pharm. Igwe disclosed this while presenting a paper titled “Ebola Virus Awareness Campaign” at the 87th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Igwe particularly advised health workers who, according to him, were more at risk of contracting the disease, to observe universal basic precautions when attending to suspected or confirmed cases and refer such to the appropriate care centre for treatment.
Explaining that there was no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease, Pharmacist Igwe further explained that blood infusion of recovered patients were being evaluated, while immune therapies were also being examined.
“No vaccines are approved yet for the diseases, but supportive care, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids coupled with early treatment of specific symptoms improves survival rate, while immunity status equally influences the survival rate”, he said.
He added further that for Nigeria to maintain its Ebola-free status, complacency must be avoided by all.
“We must remain watchful, especially at our various borders. We also enjoin the people to continue to maintain high personal and public hygiene, as if the disease is still around. Government should also not relax in regularly dishing out necessary public health information. We should keep up all those good practices that contributed to the Ebola success story. All states and local governments should strive to ensure high level of public hygiene in their domain, and continue to pay special attention to the prevention of the spread of diseases in their schools and other public places,” he counselled.
