EBOLA: Senate calls for end to strike in health sector

Senate, on Tuesday, urged the the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to call off the over three weeks strike it embarked on which has affected the health sector across the country.

The union had on April 18, embarked on industrial action due to the “insensitivity and lackadaisical attitude of drivers of the health sector’’.

The Senate’s resolution was sequel to a motion on “Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Need to Take Precautionary Measures” by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) during plenary.

The upper chamber also urged the Minister of Interior to take necessary steps to check immigration.

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It further urged the Minister of Health to ensure alertness to combat whatever cases thst might arise and get Ebola vaccines ready for an emergency.

Tinubu recalled that an infected immigrant, Mr Patrick Sawyer who arrived Nigeria in July 23, 2014 was notable for been the index case for the introduction of Ebola virus into Nigeria.

Tinubu who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment said the tide, as at then, was stemmed by quick response of the government.

She said that recent reports by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that the disease was back in neighbouring Congo with 19 deaths and 39 infected casualties recorded so far.

“The World Health Organisation states that Nigeria and other African countries are at risk of spread.”

The lawmaker said that unless hospitals were prepared properly and equipped with Ebola vaccines, it would be an epidemic Nigeria might be unable to take on.

By Ehisuan Odia…

 

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