W.H.O DECLARES NIGERIA EBOLA FREE

"Free at last!" are the words that came to mind when I heard the news of Nigeria being declared Ebola-free by the world health organisation (W.H.O). I recalled all the terrifying emotions that most Nigerians, including me went through when we confirmed the first case. The fear was palpable. For the first time since my adulthood, I saw Nigerians act as one,  (well, almost if you count those who would have sabotaged our efforts by remaining in hiding or running away).

The fear of ebola made many Nigerians fall victim to some rumors like the kolanut cure, and the salt water bath. We decided at that point that it was time to start fighting it and set out to educate people on proper prevention as there was and still has no known cure. It looked like all hope would be lost when we heard of a new case in Port-harcourt. The fear came again when the necessary protective gears were not provided for health care workers and again when it was time for children to go back to school. 

When the case showed up in the United States, to tell you the truth, my heart dropped! Why? Because what if a stable individual who has already contacted the virus, but is stable walks into our country today? That is exactly what happened in the case of America. The patient was fine. He only developed the fever after he was in the country. No fever scanner could have detected him as ebola positive in the airport. We (Nigerians) were lucky because our index patient collapsed right at the airport.

So, dear Nigerians, YES!!! we should be proud of ourselves this time. We conquered ebola. We should pop champagne and celebrate, but, in the midst of all the celebrations, we should remember that the battle is not over until it is truly over. Liberia, Sierra leone and Guinea are our neighbours. The threat is not over. We should "keep calm and watch out!" Our level of vigilance shouldn't dwindle at this time.

Doctors, Please continue wearing your protective gears. Everyone, please continue regular hand-washing, it saves you from a host of other diseases on the long run. continue using your hand sanitizers. Continue to spread the news and educate as much people as you can. In short, continue monitoring until we rid the world of ebola. The battle continues.....

Cheers......

HUMANS MAY BE WORSE THAN THE EBOLA VIRUS!!!

Hello boys and girls,

I know this title sounds very harsh, but well, I had to get a catchy title and then please allow me to explain what I mean. I'll begin by stressing that ebola is a virus, so basically, it is a non-living thing until it comes in contact with living tissues. It is not capable of  transmitting itself. It has to be transmitted from person to person. When I started thinking of writing this post, I wanted to blame it all on the Liberians, afterall, they are the ones that spread it to Nigeria and now the United States of America. Then, I thought about the reactions of the Nigerians when it hit us (not very helpful). I now remembered how the Americans transported the infected doctors back to the USA for treatment and finally, the missionaries from Spain. I decided it was a human problem.

Let me now begin the gist by saying that at the onset of the outbreak, the Liberians didn't believe that ebola was real. They believed it was a plot by their government to get funding from the west. And truly I don't blame them for that. My explanation and possible excuse for their reaction is written here. Because of their lack of belief, ignorance, and maybe fear, they continued to mingle with people who had been infected. They went as far as bursting them out of the quarantine centre. The disease continued to spread like wild fire.

Then, ebola came into Nigeria via a traveler from Liberia. He knew he had come in contact with people that had or died from the disease, still he travelled to Nigeria hiding this information. In his mind, he wanted a better treatment (or so said his wife). When the Liberian, Patrick Sawyer collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, he didn't volunteer the information and he even denied that he was travelling from Liberia and that he came in contact with an ebola patient. The diagnosis was made on a high index of suspicion and lab tests. The news broke and some people who had come in contact with the index patient were quarantined. Still, a nurse who should have known better, escaped surveillance and travelled to another part of the country exposing more people to the virus. Even a Nigerian diplomat did the same and a doctor helped him conceal it. As you'll find here.

It seemed Nigerians and the world had it under control until it showed up in America via a traveler from Liberia. He too didn't volunteer the information that he had been to Liberia recently or had contact with an ebola patient when he developed a fever. This is the latest issue of the ebola spread that is holding the world to ransom. A few days after that, I heard of the nurse in Spain that caught it from attending to the missionaries that travelled from Sierra leone.

This whole story reminds me of an animated movie I watched "Osmosis Jones". It's funny that the movie depicted the virus as the culprit. It was made to have a mind of its own and a set target. What is also great about this movie is that they made us understand that it was the human who took the virus into his body, knowingly or unknowingly. This ebola virus has no emotions or brain. It has been built that way to replicate and destroy once it comes in contact with living cells. Finally, we humans are to blame because through various means, we have aided the spread of the disease. While the blacks are spreading it through fear, disbelief and ignorance, the whites are spreading it through overconfidence in their ability to combat it.

To me, the best way to fight it and win, is to take the war to where it all begun and not trying to rescue a few injured men at a time. Send the relief to the affected countries and deal with it there. The war is not over until it is truly over.

Cheers......

NIGERIAN SCHOOLS SET TO RESUME DESPITE EBOLA SCARE

In the last one week, increasingly, parents have been worried sick with fear. This is especially worse for parents with school children. Because of the ebola outbreak in Nigeria, (thank God it has been contain or hopefully so), the resumption date for nursery and primary schools in both the private and public schools had been postponed until recently. Initially, the news was that schools would resume on the 13th of October, 2014. Parents were still trying to work out what this could mean for them and their families, when the date was brought forward to September 22nd, 2014. Soon after the date was announced, some parents and doctors became scared for the future of this country, and with good reasons too. 

Parents decided to take the children to hospital to carry out every investigations known to man before sending them back to school. That was their own way of coping with the situation. Some other parents decided to go ahead and treat for malaria and typhoid whether or not the children had the symptoms or even if the drugs bought from over the counter were the correct ones or in the right doses. The fact that the hospital I work with decided to offer free consultation to patients to mark her 25th anniversary, served to increase the patient load. But I thank God for it, because it helped to dispel some wrong notions. What else do you really expect these parents to do? They are in a country where people drink and bathe with salt water to cure ebola.

With all I've said so far, my question is why are we in a hurry to set a resumption date for schools, (especially nursery and primary schools)? The secondary and tertiary schools, I can understand perfectly. This group can be educated and expected to comply. How do you protect a 2 year old from contacting the disease from a classmate/friend? Granted, the minister of health has informed us that there have been no new cases in the country in the last 1 week or so. However, Senegal just recorded their first case because someone crossed the border by road. How are we going to prevent new cases from entering the country? These little children don't know what we are so worried about. They come to the hospital and lie on the floor. They are ready to pick their food from the floor and put into their mouths. They have no idea what you mean by avoid contact with someone that have fever. Do they even know what fever is? What about all this fuss we are making about regular hand washing and use of sanitizers? Can they understand the reasons behind them?

Let's leave the children out of this for a minute. What about their schools? How equipped are they? Have proper provisions been made for soap and water? What about their carers? Imagine one teacher to 30 children (that is the standard right?). Anyway, just yesterday in the clinic, I was attending to a mother and her 3 children. and myself and the lady had our share of trouble trying to prevent one of the children from putting her hand into the trashcan. Tell me then, how 1 teacher/carer can cope with trying to keep these children safe and ensure they do the right thing.

Another thing, some children are in boarding schools, with resumption, they will most likely come in contact with children from other parts of the country including those that have experienced the ebola outbreak. I know that the incubation period is 2-21 days oh, just saying sha. 

Finally, if I was a parent, here's what I'd do; I'll keep my children at home and tutor them myself in my free time. They'll be safe for me that way. Loosing a term means absolutely nothing especially for these nursery/primary school children. What exactly is it that they learn anyway? The alphabets or numbers? Growing up in this same country, there was a year that we concluded the curriculum for a whole session in 2 terms. That is how it came to be that first term now starts in September, It used to be in January. 

Let us learn from Liberia and other affected countries to take the proverbial bull by the horn. We should be careful not to put our comfort or greed and selfishness as parents, proprietors or government before the safety and lives of our children. They are afterall, the leaders of tomorrow. Ebola is not a JOKE!!!

Adios...

NIGERIA: STILL UNPREPARED FOR EBOLA

August 25th, 2014, the Nigerian medical association (NMA) called off their almost 2-month old strike amidst insult from the general public and a threat to be sacked. One week later, the residents were called back to work by the federal government. I thought that would be the end of the problem until I referred a patient to the teaching hospital in my community and they came back a few hours later, unattended to. Further enquiries revealed that though the strike has the called off, the staff of the hospital weren't working. That was very odd and disheartening at the same time. Because, even though the doctors were on strike, those of us in the private sector were still working with whatever little we have.

To clarify, the private hospitals in Nigeria are more like clinics. They have little or no specialized equipment and almost no specialist. My centre, I must say is one of the best you can find but not as good as the teaching hospitals. So, now I'm you can understand my predicament when I learnt that the doctors/staff of the teaching hospitals weren't accepting patients.

When ebola viral disease came into the country, many doctors thanked God for the strike. The explanation is simple. The first point of call for the primary victim would have been the teaching hospital where most likely a house officer would be ask to see. That house officer would have easily made a diagnosis of severe malaria. Admitting or discharging the patient of course would depend on how the patient looked. Bottomline, the diagnosis of EBV would have been delayed or never made, thereby endangering far too many lives.

The greatest fear for doctors when the strike was called off was our readiness to combat ebola effectively. I have worked in a teaching hospital before, (although as a house officer). At some point I had to get a box to put all my "work essentials" like gloves, spirit, cotton wool, syringes, sample bottles and even continuation sheet. Items that should ordinarily be readily available in the wards. I carried that box (carton) everywhere for fear of it "getting missing". I didn't want to start running from ward to ward when I needed any of them.

Now, look at this, right now, to examine any patient, I have to have on my improvised PPE (personal protective equipment). This includes gloves and face mask at least. A gown and goggles if you are at a higher risk of coming in contact with bodily fluids. Imagine a situation where even these have not been provided for medical personnel to work with. This is exactly the case at the teaching hospitals across the country. Yes, the government has set up a centre for the disease control in Lagos. Yes they are even checking temperature with infrared device, the one where the people using it don't know the actual temperature value they should look out for. (One of the airport people put my hubby aside for a temperature of 37.2C, which is normal by the way).

Further probing led me to a website where I got this screen captured photos above. Apparently, the minister of health has denied that the money approved by the federal government to contain the virus was infact meant for the ministry and it was to aid them in the purchase of cars and drugs and other items already ordered for. Money that would have be put into some good use for once in the history of Nigerian has been successfully cornered once again.

Anyway, the doctors as well as health workers have decided that NO PPE, NO WORK. Afterall they say the fear of ebola is the beginning of wisdom right now.

Cheers.....

Photo: http://www.ekekeee.com/1-9billion-naira-buying-cars-ebola-chukwu-tries-explain-released-fund/

EBOLA VIRUS NOW IN PORT-HARCOURT

I was relaxing this evening when I got the same shocking text message from three of my contacts saying there is now ebola virus in Port-harcourt, Rivers state. The message said that another ECOWAS diplomat who was in contact with the primary ebola victim, Patrick Sawyer escaped surveillance and travelled to Port-harcourt for treatment. He survived, but the doctor who treated him died last Friday and his wife raised the alert to the ministry of health. Two questions immediately come to mind.

• How did that happen? I mean how did the diplomat escape surveillance?
• What made the doctor act the way he did?

Typically, I would have started apportioning blame by now. For instance, blaming the government or the minister of health, the travel agencies that allowed him to travel. I'm pretty sure he didn't disappear and reappear. However, this is not a time to apportion blame, neither is it time for name calling.

While everyone was and is still busy working hard to prevent further spread of the virus, a doctor was harboring another in secret and doing what the general public would see as heroism. During this strike period by the Nigerian doctors, I have heard repeatedly from people how we have abandoned our Hippocratic oath, despite not fully understanding what it entails or how it has been revised over the years. Yes, it says "first do no harm" right? That's exactly what my colleague was doing by treating this diplomat. Now, I guess he made a mistake as no one knows his reasons for not alerting the public when he had the chance.

I will continue to stress the fact that we need to be more proactive, in order to effectively combat this virus and set our country free from it (conspiracy theory or not). Do not think that the virus is not yet in your vicinity just because it hasn't be announced in the news. Prevention is better than cure everytime. 

The name of the hospitals and hotel mentioned in the text messages I received are as follows;

• Samstel clinic, Rumuokoro, Port-harcourt
• Good heart specialist hospital, Evo road, GRA, Port-harcourt
• Mandate Hotel

Finally, so far 15 cases have been confirmed. We must commend ourselves, while continuing to strive for the best. So, if you show any symptoms or know anyone who has symptoms. if you have visited any of these places or know of anyone who has done so recently, please kindly report to the River State Health Ministry for risk assessment. Do not hide and put both your family and the general public at risk.

MY CONSPIRACY THEORY ON EBOLA

Lately, there have been a lot of talk about the Ebola disease worldwide, of course more in Africa. I personally thought the Liberians to be quite unserious when they insisted that the ebola scare was just a conspiracy by their government to get foreign aid. I was shocked when Nigerians proved more difficult. They became impossible when it was discovered that there was a possibility of cure with the appearance of the drug #Zmapp in the scene. Nigerians decided it must be a conspiracy theory when they asked for the drug and a "NO" was the response from the United States of America on the basis that it was an #experimentaldrug. The agitation tripled, when it was discovered that the priest in Spain had gotten it yesterday. When the Liberians got it today, the media was abuzz with conspiracy theories.  I have even come up with my own conspiracy theory. (Of course this post isn't a serious one, just something to get the edge off).

So, about my theory or should I say my friend and I's? We were gisting generally (of course about ebola), when the word bioterrorism entered the discussion. Infact, the discussion went as follows;

Friend: " I read somewhere that the way this disease is spreading is what oyibo will call bioterrorism".

Me: Shey?!! the close meaning I can get in English is "that may be right"

Friend: It's true now, how did the disease appear in West Africa? I thought it had been contained in Central Africa for almost 40 years now.

Me: I don't know oh! I've thought about it before. Is it possible that someone escaped from containment and flew to Liberia?

Friend: Hmmm....

Me: No, I don't think so. They said it was gotten from Monkeys in Lofa. The boundary town between three initially affected countries. (refer to this post to see the video).

Friend: Abi oh!

Me: They also said that it was in the monkeys from that same forest that they discovered HIV II.

Friend: There is nothing that is not in that forest.

Me: So, if the monkeys had ebola since, why didn't they have an outbreak all these years in Liberia, Guinea or Sierra leone? At least, they have been eating and playing with the monkeys all these years.

Friend: No wonder the people don't believe that ebola is real. Will you really blame them? See what is happening here (Nigeria) now. To stop eating bushmeat, na war.

Me: Well, prevention is better than cure. But ehn, if it was gotten from the monkeys, is it that the monkeys travelled from Central Africa and landed in Liberia? It would have had to pass through all them Cameroun, Togo, Benin, Ghana, e.t.c. to get there. Abi, did someone travel with it from Congo to Liberia as a pet via Plane or Ship?

Friend: My dear, I don't know oh!

Me: You know, I watched a movie (I think it's mission impossible) where one scientist weaponised a virus, created an antidote. He then wanted to use it as a means of terrorism. They killed the guy, of course that's only a movie. What if someone actually tried it in real life? Maybe, not weaponise it, but harvested it and inoculated it in the monkeys in that Lofa forest?

Friend: It could even be a laboratory experiment gone wrong.

Me: Shey you saw that abandon research centre for monkeys in that video? (in this context, shey = I think).
Anyway, We are in the hands of God with this one. Did you hear about that Zmapp drug? They said they won't give us, that it is still in the trial stages.

Friend: Is it not what we were talking about yesterday? And you where siding with the Americans.

Me: When?

Friend: During class

Me: Really? I was just stressing that all we Africans know how to do is wait for finished product. In this day and age, why couldn't we have gone into the research of producing a drug for it. It is even an original African problem. It is the same thing we are doing with Lassa fever. Waiting and relying on the west for everything. Next thing now, we'll ask them to give the drug for free. Their corporate organisations are already pumping in money to see to more production of the drug.

Friend: Why didn't they try the drug on the Liberians? They had to wait for hundreds of people to die, then they couldn't wait to give their citizen.

Me: Did the Liberians produce the drug? But wait oh! this is becoming something else oh! So they had the drug all this while sha? Na wa o! Do you know that I just got information that they have giving the priset in Spain.

Friend: You see?

Me: Did you hear that Ghana has also possibly gotten their first case? One very sick man from Burkina Faso oh! Carried across the border by his family members.

Friend: Almost the same way the Liberian knew he was sick and came to Nigeria in the name of diplomacy.

Me: Are the big African countries being targeted?

Friend: Don't ask me oh? I don't know.

My people that is how that discussion ended. No conclusions drawn, just hypothesis. Lol. It was a nice brain storming session, wouldn't you say? Anyway, conspiracy theory or no. Africa!! Nigeria!! this simply shows it is time for you to wake up, get up, and start working hard!!!

Cheers.....

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF EBOLA

Hey Everyone,

In the last few days, I've written some posts on the Ebola disease virus (EDV) that hit West Africa and in particular, Nigeria. I've also thought of ideas through which I can further protect myself and my immediate community like family, friends, coworkers and the small amount of the general public I can reach through this media. On this matter of how I intend to protect myself and community, let me first relay my experience to you. This happened in the last two days from the place I went to eat and then, to church.

• I went out with my friends to eat and we had to use a taxi, been too self conscious, I complained that I didn't know who had open the door before me, or who had sat on the chair. I wore my leather jacket even though I was beginning to get hot. (Thank God it was a short distance). We get to the eatery and start to lecture the caterers on the need to wear gloves. They reassured us that they wash and sanitize their hands every 30 minutes. We paid and looked for the nearest tap to wash our hands. Anyway, long story short, they were true to their words. They even sanitized every table once a client left (not just wiped with a wet rag). I was impressed. Yesterday, I went to church, had to go through the same ordeal of ""who has touched this door handle?" "who has sat on this chair?" Then, I said to myself, "Keren, count your blessing, what about those in the hospitals right now?" After that little pep talk, I relaxed a bit but my mind was on full drive. The next thing I heard were the following as part of the usual celebration of mass
• Priest: "peace of the Lord be with you" 
• Congregation "and with your spirit". 
• Priest: let us now offer each other the sign of peace.
• Congregation turned around and started shaking each other 
• You see I am a catholic and I totally forgot about that part of mass until that very point.

In my mind: are you guys for real? I turned to the woman on my left, she smiled at me and extended her hand, I returned the smile and shook her finger tips while noting that her fingers were dry. After that I folded my arms across my chest and didn't turn again. The lady in front of me turn and was extending her hand. I simply smiled at her and waved. I'm sure I seemed very rude, afterall we were in Church and God would protect us. I mean, we were at least 300 people in the church today and it wasn't full to capacity. One person shakes at least six other persons. Do you now follow my train of thought? After the mass, the announcer started the announcements and the one that caught my attention was when she said summer school registration was still on-going  and parents should endeavor to register their children, wards and any child they knew couldn't afford it. It was then that I decided it wasn't enough for me to come here on this blog and lay my complaints. It was time for me to contribute the little that I could. Here are the little things I came up with apart from regular hand washing;

Let's help One Another (not necessarily by holding hands

• Firstly, public places like eateries, restaurant, banks, churches, shops and supermarkets that have a high rate of turnover of people coming and going, should make extra efforts in sanitizing their places. For example, these places should follow the example sited above by cleaning surfaces, door and cart handles with alcohol based sanitizers or bleach. The opening and closing of the doors should be done by a limited member of the staff.
• Unnecessary gatherings of a large number of people from different homes or different parts of the country like camps, certain conferences should be possibly postponed for now.
• Churches, especially orthodox churches that receive holy communion should ask their congregation to wash their hands before coming for holy communion, (the priest and people giving communion should also follow suit). The congregation should receive the communion with their hands and put it into their mouths themselves. Not one priest putting in everyone's mouth. (The virus can be transmitted through saliva). About the issue of offering each other the sign of peace, putting your hands together in front of your chest and bowing your head to your neighbor would do. Or simply wave your hands from a distance. (We doctors called it the BLUETOOTH HANDSHAKE OR HUG, Lol). This is already the practice in some countries like India. I admit it was quite strange the first time I experienced it, but now I see their possible reason.
• The offering bowls should be big enough with a wide opening not a peephole. Also, there should be a limited number of  people handling the money (while wearing disposable gloves). I must emphasize the need for this. Remember, the money has already been handled by a number of people you know not. I must also stress that the church is also as venerable as hospitals in this kind of cases that have no cure yet, especially in Africa where many people still believe in God and still go to churches to get healed for curable diseases like malaria.
• Corporate bodies, churches, hospitals e.t.c. should hold seminars on educating their staff about this disease, its cause, symptoms, course, progression, available management plans and prognosis. This would help forestall undesirable consequences to rumors. Besides, even though I have said in my previous posts that the government should focus on getting to the grassroots, I know that they can't possibly do it alone. (Not in a country like Nigeria I daresay. In fact, sometimes, I believe they would abandon ship if the worse comes to worst. Afterall, they fly abroad for simple cases of food poisoning). We should take the correct information to our relatives living in the rural areas.
• What I need the government to do in addition, is get much of that corruption money and do some good with it. Buy #zmapp at any cost for your citizens, (experimental or not).
• Lastly, my people, if we don't take care of ourselves, who will? Spread the correct information. If you get an information you are not sure of, open the web on your smart phones and check it out. Or better still, ask someone with the real information on these matters. Buy hand sanitizers, wipes, gloves or even tissue for use especially in public places, to open doors, operate the ATM or POS machines. Make sure to wipe your phones regularly (it is what is always, always in your hands). Ladies even wipe your handbags (especially the handles).
• Also maintain constant hand washing. You can refer to this post for ideas on proper use of your hands

I hope this goes a long way to help, read and reshare to help as much people as we can. If you have any good important information on how to further help, please do enter it in the comment section. Until another time.

Cheers....

UPDATE ON THE EBOLA OUTBREAK IN NIGERIA

Hey everyone, earlier in the week, I posted an article that the terror that Ebola has brought upon Nigerians here. Today, I have some update on the Ebola outbreak in the country (Nigeria) and other affected countries (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone). Amazingly, some people are still so disbelieving. Even in Liberia where the number of deaths are in the hundreds approaching a thousand now. Some other people are still making fun of it, others are doing more businesses and many people haven't adopted basic precautionary measure necessary for daily living in this situation. Many are still travelling within states despite their state of health.

First of all, medical doctors from every part of Nigeria gathered to have a conference in Ibadan in the last 2 days. We were all bothered about having such a gathering of doctors at such a time. We expressed our concerns and took measures like not shaking hands. Even the caterers were made to wear gloves as they served our food (good measure). This morning, my colleague received a call from one of the orderlies in the hospital asking if it was right for her to bathe with salt and water as a prevention to contracting the Ebola virus. She said it was the information she got from family members. She was reassured and told to bathe with normal soap and water. Then, the text started rolling in; I actually got 3 different versions of the story. This is how it went:

• I don't know how true this information is for prevention of Ebola virus: 1) Bathe with hot water mixed with salt. 2) Drink hot water with little quantity of salt. 3) Eat bitter kola.This should be your regular therapy. Send this to those you cherish. Prevention is better than cure.
• I got this from a contact. I have not verified it. FG fumigated the country early hours of today for Ebola, so you have been advised to boil hot water and salt for bathing to prevent negative effect. I know there is no harm in bathing with salt water. Just do it to be on the safe side.
• A third version of the story was to allow the water dry on your body after bathing.

Soon after the message started circulating, these photos also hit the media. Not sure where the Ebola salt came from. Whether it was the work of a graphic designer or actually a product in the market.

Many people stupidly followed the advice of bathing and drinking salt water. What do you expect in a country like Nigeria where the people in charge of disseminating the proper information and protecting the masses aren't doing their job properly. The ignorance of the masses makes even more difficult. The messages above are saying "just do it, there is no harm". What happens to the hypertensive patient that drinks this salt water? By midday, the few people I know that don't take every information 'hook, line and sinker, fisherman and boat' were so pissed they began to circulate their own messages like why not add pepper and onions. Others said focus more on God. Soon after, the intelligent ones started circulating their own messages, my friend showed me a link she got on her blackberry. A lady was owning up to be the one who started circulating the salt and water story. She said she started it as a prank amongst her friends and then she apologized that she didn't mean to harm anyone. I can imagine what the consequences of her actions would have caused her if she was in a more civilized society. I'm almost certain that someone would have filed a lawsuit against her for spreading such rumors.

The picture below is one I got from a fellow doctor, Dr Ebele at the conference. I must commend the federal ministry of health for making some efforts at least in enlightening the public. I just hope these posters weren't printed in only pidgin English. Why? you may ask. Let me explain. Of what use is a poster written in pidgin English to the illiterate Nigerian? They are afterall, the target audience for the poster, aren't they? Tell me, can a person who can't read English, read pidgin English? Pidgin English isn't taught in any school curriculum like many other Nigerian languages like Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Bini e.t.c. The target population would benefit more from verbal information passed to them on radio or television, grass-root campaigns shouldn't be limited only to politics. At a time like this, the illiterate and ignorant population need these rallies more than the elite would can easily access information on the internet using their many smart phones. I hope the ministry gets this message and do better if they haven't done so already.

To make matters worse, information reaching me this evening, says that they now have suspected cases of Ebola viral disease in NNPC clinic, Lagos and Garki hospital, Abuja. A source close to the hospital informed me that those that came in contact with the patients were allowed home after blood samples were collected from them and sent to Lagos for testing. I begin to wonder why? Is it so that they can go home and infect their family members if they turn out to be infected? So, everyone, if you think it's good enough to go ahead making fun and spreading rumors about this problem, think again. Imagine the devastation it would cause if it finds its way into Northern Nigeria. The video below shows that many people in Liberia still think it's a scam.

Wise up Naija! Nigerians please be more sensible. This is not a joke at all.

Cheers.....

TERROR STRIKES NIGERIANS: EBOLA!!

It's been almost two weeks now since the news of the deadly virus,  Ebola, hit Nigeria and the level of fear is unbelievable. Lots of information (true and false) suddenly showed up on the media and the streets. Before I go into the possible reasons for the fear amongst Nigerians, let me take a moment to share some basic information about this deadly virus. 

The Ebola virus

Ebola is a haemorrhagic disease caused by the Ebola virus, it was named after the Ebola river where the first outbreaks occurred in 1976 in the democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). It kills about 90% of its victims, is transmitted through contact with body secretions like sweat, saliva, urine, faeces, blood and semen through broken skin or mucous membrane. It has an incubation period (time of infection to manifestation of symptoms) of 2 -21 days. Patients become contagious when they are symptomatic. Symptoms initially begin with flu - like symptoms like catarrh, cough, then the patient develops fever, joint and muscle pains, sore throat, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea. A patient at this stage could easily be mistaken as having malaria.  At the terminal stages, the patient may develop internal or external bleeding from orifices (nose, mouth, ears e.t.c.) Women may experience heavy and irregular menstruation. It's primary hosts are animals like apes,  monkeys, fruit bats, even antelopes and porcupines.  Transmission from animals to man is also via contact, by handling these animals dead or alive. Prevention is by proper hand washing with soap and water, use of sanitizers, gloves and protective gears; avoidance unnecessary contact like handshakes; washing your fruits and vegetables properly before consumption; be alert and report any suspicious cases; lastly, fast, hands- off burial practices.

So, in a discussion somedays ago, someone asked a question and this is how it went, "if given a choice to choose between HIV, cancer or Ebola, which would you choose? Without wasting much time, I heard the response from someone else in the discussion,  "HIV". The reason for that answer was this; "people are now living comfortably with the disease, provided they follow the rules, they will be fine and they don't die within a month. That response took me back to a time when HIV was the most dreaded disease in Nigeria. HIV, the reason why lots of people committed suicide, the reason for so much stigmatisation, is now more desirable in comparison to the Ebola virus.  Now you can only begin to imagine the level of fear that struck Nigerians when the diagnosis of Ebola disease was made on the Liberian man -Patrick Sawyer 2 weeks ago.

When I heard of the probable outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria, my initial reaction was "why the hell did the Liberians allow their citizens leave their country? " Then, I thought "No, why didn't the Nigerian government shut down the airports to the affected countries as a preventive measure?" Anyway, whatever my reactions were is irrelevant now as the virus is already in the country. Right now, the next thought in my head is what do we do? You see, Nigerians are not the best when it comes to emergency response.  In fact, I really don't think we know the meaning of the words emergency preparation. Remember the floods of 2013,  how did the response to that go?  The general gist was that the government had been informed weeks earlier that a neighbouring country would be opening their dams, and Nigeria should put measures in place to cub any flooding.  I daresay, the level of response to that warning was at 0 level,  and the emergency response when the floods did ensue was at -0 level. So, now you understand that saying terror has struck Nigerians is actually an understatement. We are petrified! If the government couldn't so much as manage a disaster as flooding,  can someone please tell me how they hope to effectively combat a disease as virulent as Ebola?

At a time like this, I don't know if I should be thankful that the medical doctors are on strike. Most doctors know what to do theoretically,  but with the health sector as poor as it is, their hands are tied. The only disease similar to the Ebola, that we have had cause to manage is Lassa fever which is endemic to certain parts of the country. Now, the small doctors who know what to actually do are on strike, and the big oga doctors at the top,  all them commissioners,  directors and ministers of health who have been so out of touch, I wonder if they know the current treatment of malaria are in charge. We are in hot soup for sure. So tell me folks, how do you prevent a disease like Ebola in a country like Nigeria, where everyone's way of greeting is hugs and handshakes? A country where a simple procedure like quarantine is a big deal, a country where anything goes. A place where contact tracing for patients with tuberculosis is next to impossible.

As always, the first reaction to any bad news is denial. At the beginning, almost everyone said "it is yet to be confirmed, he's just a suspect because he's a Liberian". Then, it was confirmed and he passed on.  The story changed to "well no other person has been diagnosed of it, we'll do our best to keep it that way". They decide to spread the news of stop eating bush meat. For goodness sake Ebola is not endemic to Nigeria unless the animals from the affected countries cross over. The news begin to circulate in the media, whether WHO or United States said it or not.

I've actually been meaning to write this post for sometime now, but what actually prompted me into writing today is the treatment metted on me by the airline. An airline from which my wristwatch was stolen from inside my checked in luggage oh! (Story for another day). So I was flying back from Abuja yesterday,  and as the cabin crew carried out their usual take off routine,  I heard an announcement,  "because of the Ebola alert,  we are going to spray you with insecticide. If you are wearing contact lenses or you are allergic to it, we apologise." My jaw literally dropped!  Like for real??!!!.... How does spraying insecticide stop the spread of the disease? It is caused by a virus not an insect! It isn't even transmitted through insect bite. At this point,  I was thoroughly pissed! I just got out my pen and paper and began to write this post. Upon landing, I tried to educate the cabin crew on better ways to prevent the spread of the disease by wearing gloves for instance especially when sharing the food and handling overhead lockers, they should try to seat people with spaces between them especially when the craft is not full. One of the the crew members was glad for the advice,  (intelligent young man), the other one a lady decided to be a wise a**. (Why do women have to be so da***d difficult especially when you are a fellow female trying to correct them?) This is the discussion that ensued between us:

Hostess: what are you guys still doing in the plane? (Addressing her colleague and I)

Colleague: she's telling something useful that could help us as per the Ebola.

Me: I actually said, it would be safer if you shared food wearing gloves, it protects you and I.

Hostess: how would you feel if I served you wearing gloves? (Typical Nigerian way of answering a question or statement in this case with a question - sarcasm).

Me: I'll feel fine, knowing the situation of things in the country,  besides in other affected countries, people wear gloves as a way of life now, even to shake others.

Hostess: I would prefer to give a handshake wearing gloves than share food wearing gloves. If I was given food by someone wearing gloves,  I'll feel bad.

Me: really?  What's the difference?

Hostess: the doctor said we should spray insecticide. (Do you now understand my problem with non-practicing doctors who have no clue what to do?)

Me: your doctor is confused.  I am a doctor.

Colleague: waow!!!

And I walked off the plane. I get home and the story is even much worse. Apparently, my dear "Igbo brothers" have to bury their beloved relative who died in Liberia (cause of death - unknown) in the country. They go ahead to fly in the body. I'm almost certain they'd go ahead and do the proper wake keep where people can freely cry and touch the body and collect. Let me inform you now that the death of the host doesn't mean the death of the virus (a virus has both living and non living characteristics). It can be transmitted through contact with clothings too. Then I heard that the medical doctor that treated the Liberian has been diagnosed with the disease. One dumb Nigerian said it was the ploy of the doctors on strike to get more money. That the medical doctors brought Ebola into the country and would stop at nothing, no matter who gets hurt. Imagine such a response! (http://www.punchng.com/politics/doctor-who-treated-dead-liberian-tests-positive-to-ebola/).  Again our ogas at the top decided that the best way to combat the spread was to visit a prominent church pastor in Nigeria and ask him not to accept sick people from outside the country for healing.  Meanwhile the pastor thinks Ebola is a rumor (http://www.punchng. com/news/ebola-lasg-visits-synagogue-church/).

Dear Nigerians government where are your senses oh! Your sense of safety and obligation? After writing about this and thinking about it for so long,  I begin to ask the question "why doesn't this virus have a vaccine yet?" It's been there for over 3 decades now. Yellow fever is a haemorrhagic disease too yet it has a vaccine.  Is it because Ebola is not yet a pandemic? Then the news about bitter kola being able to inhibit the growth of the virus in the body. I dont know how true this is,  but read this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/411030.stm

So since the government is always letting us down, many Nigerians have found ways to relieve the tension. Many faced God (our only true source of hope right now), others decided to make some money through this, while the remainder tried to laugh it off.  Check out photos below

The person I got this from said it was the perfect description of Ebola since its first outbreak was near a river and it is scary.

Right now, I'm worn out, so dear Nigerians, I leave you with this little piece of advice, this is not the time to laugh or joke about everything. Prayer is good, but heaven helps those who help themselves.  Instead of using your phones for irrelevant facebooking and twittering,  go to Google at least and check out ways to help yourself and your community.  For now, it's entirely up to us.

Adios....