By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA — A non governmental organisation, Initiative for Grassroosts Advancement, INGRA, has tasked the Kogi State Government to put measures in place that will safeguard the residents of the state from the viral disease, Ebola, that was threatening the country.

Executive Director of INGRA, Hamza Aliyu, said the recent outbreak of the Ebola epidemic worldwide had brought to fore the serious gaps in the health systems at national and state levels.

Speaking yesterday in Lokoja, Aliyu stressed the need for Kogi State to be more vigilant in view of the strategic location of the state as a gateway between the southern and northern parts of the country, as people criss-cross the state everyday to get to their destinations.

According to Aliyu, “since the outbreak began in February 2014 in Guinea, we in Nigeria and most especially in Kogi State, have acted as if we are immune to the savage effects of the virus, which has been documented as one of the most virulent and infectious ailments of our time and makes the HIV situation look like a child’s play.

“With the first reported case in Nigeria in July 2014, many states have woken up to put in place various means of curtailing the spread of the virus, which has a mortality rate as high as 90 per cent. Kogi State had recently inaugurated a 12-man committee for this purpose, but there are questions as to the seriousness of the state government in this fight.

“States like Lagos and Delta have put in robust measures to checkmat the spread. What our state is doing apart from running jingles on radio and television is the question we are asking considering the geographic location of Kogi State.

“The health facilities designated as treatment centres for the disease, how much has been released for procurement of safety health kits for health workers?  What trainings have been organised for health workers on early diagnosis of the disease? What insurance policy are in place for health workers who will bear the brunt of the infection? What laws are being put in place by the state government to ensure the proper handling of deceased patients?

“It is important that the state government wakes up to its responsibility and put in place cognate measures to help prevent the spread in the state. It will only take one case in Lokoja to bring about an epidemic of Biblical proportion in the state.”