Ebola Virus, Security Threat to West Africa, Says ECOWAS

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has described the outbreak of the infectious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a security threat to the West African sub-region.

This is as the Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) in Owerri, capital of Imo State has rounded off with the sensitisation of Nigerians on the need to add more of vegetables and fruits to their meals to boost their immune system against the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

ECOWAS Commission President, Kadre Desire Quedraogo who stated this in Abuja, stressed that the epidemic was a security issue that not only cause havoc for one country but was now a regional concern.

He stated this at the Health Partners Coordinating Committee (HPPC) meeting at the Federal Ministry of Health. Quedraogo said he took the opportunity of the high level meeting of the coordinating body for bilateral and multilateral partnerships in Nigeria to pay a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.
“I convey to the government of Nigeria, the total solidarity and support of ECOWAS in this very courageous struggle against the Ebola epidemic.

“ECOWAS also has suffered the devastating effect of this epidemic because we lost one of our dedicated staff and we received support and assistance from the Minister of Health in handling this very sad case.

“We fully appreciate what the international community, the health authority in Nigeria, the health personnel, and I want here to pay tribute to the courage of all the people involved in managing this epidemic in Nigeria. We appreciate their actions. This has been considered as a very very security issue for ECOWAS,” he stressed.

The ECOWAS President recalled an extraordinary meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Health convened by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana in his capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS which took place in Accra on 28th August 2014.
He said the meeting took far reaching measures on the containment of Ebola in the region at the level of the Ministers of Health and also at the level of the Heads of State and Government.

He explained that the priority in Accra was to see how to assist the affected countries in containing the epidemic. He recalled that the meeting discussed how to strengthen the health structures of member states for them to get ready to join the struggle. He said another element was sanitisation and information, how to convey to the people harmonised message on the danger of the epidemic.

“We considered the critical issue of free movement of persons and goods in the region. Since the outbreak of the disease, many member states have started closing their borders or restricting movement of persons. We pleaded against stigmatisation and condemnation and urged member states to work together in total solidarity.  The spirit of oneness and solidarity is the essence of ECOWAS and we should not lose the very foundation of our community because of this epidemic”, he pleaded.

The ECOWAS President also cautioned against isolating countries affected by the epidemic, stating that it would be counter-productive as closing borders would not only undermine the very essence of economic union which was the free movement of persons and goods but could also deny them the financial resources to face the epidemic.

He said that surveillance measures were recommended for member states to apply which included screening of passengers at exit and entry points to any country. Explaining how this  would work, the ECOWAS President said there was a proposal for each member state to select one land, sea and air entry point to be jointly monitored by member states to reassure any government of adequate measures to screen passengers before they enter any country.

The president emphasised that where there was need to close the border, this should be preceded by consultation among countries concerned with the views of World Health Organisation (WHO) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) taken into consideration to make sure that such measures were necessary.

“The general principle is that borders should be open but submitted to close, very strict surveillance by member states”, he explained, adding that it was agreed that ECOWAS should open humanitarian and economic corridors towards the member states affected by the Ebola epidemic.

Mr. Quedraogo also urged that solidarity should be expressed financially and appealed to all member states and partners to contribute to a solidarity fund opened by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to fight the epidemic.

He reiterated the gratitude of ECOWAS Commission to the government of Nigeria for committing $3.5 million for ECOWAS to combat the epidemic in the region, saying that it had been received by WAHO, the health arm of ECOWAS.

He said that the ministerial meeting in Accra had within one week, developed an operational plan which was ready for submission to the Chairman of ECOWAS through the ministerial committee. According to him, the ministerial committee would be assisted by a technical committee comprising WAHO, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), WHO and ECOWAS Commission.

“We were not well prepared for this type of epidemic which is not only a health issue but also an economic and security issue. We lack the necessary human, financial resources and technical resources to face the situation hence the appeal for the assistance of partners in these areas”, he added.

Speaking, the Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu expressed appreciation to ECOWAS for its key role in the containment activities against the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.

Comparing the containment efforts to waging a war, he stressed the importance of team work towards a common purpose and assured of the readiness of Nigeria to cooperate with ECOWAS in that regard.

Chukwu told the gathering that President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed the leadership role in the fight against the disease, pointing out that it is only by collaboration that the epidemic will be contained and eradicated as well.

Speaking during a press briefing, the President of the Society, Prof. Ngozi Nnam disclosed that the body had not relented in ensuring that proper information was released about the need to build immunity of Nigerians to fight back the highly contagious disease.

“We have been releasing some proper information and recommendation to help build the immune system. We recommend the consumption of enough vegetables and fruits on a daily basis as these items help the building and formulation of body nutrients”, she said.

According to her, if the immune system was intact, one would be able to fight back the virus.
The NSN boss urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of building in vegetables and fruits in their food to fight back anti-bodies, stating that when these nutrients were applied properly it will definitely build ones immunity.

The five-day conference had as its theme “Adequate Nutrition: A Panacea for National Development”. It was also geared towards ensuring healthy Nigerians and arresting malnutrition in the society.

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