Efforts by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to galvanize the entire nation for a massive curtailment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country have received a major boost with the convocation of the Oil and Gas Industry Stakeholders Forum on the disease led by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and Board Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Arising from its maiden meeting in Lagos recently, Saturday Vanguard exclusively gathered that the forum, after listening to a joint presentation by officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos State Government and the World Health Organization on the state of EVD, agreed on six essential areas of intervention for the oil and gas industry geared towards supporting the national intervention efforts of President Jonathan.

The minister explained that companies in the oil and gas industry will key into the national response and support awareness efforts particularly in their areas of operation.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison-Madueke

“Specifically, the industry is to support the efforts in containing the EVD spread through the following interventions: Support the urgently needed capacity building efforts and assist in boosting the number of skilled personnel (health officials), equipment and facilities needed to contain the disease. This, they will do by supporting needed training programs for health care and allied personnel,’’ the Minister stated.

Our sources said that the other areas of intervention include: Provision of identified needs like dedicated appropriate ambulances to move suspected cases from airports and other locations to isolation and screening centres, laboratories and testing centres to improve on the speed of diagnosis and screening of suspected cases, rapid screening of persons in identified areas such as airports, heliports, and other entry points by provision of appropriate equipment.

We gathered that the Oil and Gas Forum on EVD also pledged to support the provision of needed inputs such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) aprons and thermal scanners to further support the protection of health officials, volunteers and surveillance operations, and ensure the containment of the outbreak in a sustainable way. They also plan to provide assistance to communities in information dissemination and working with other intervention teams in other areas as may be needed from time to time.

While emphasizing the need for proper information management and dissemination aimed at providing needed education rather than creating panic and fear, the forum pledged to avail the Federal Ministry of Health with all possible assistance that can be mustered from the sector.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke who was represented by Engr. Jonathan Okehs, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a Corporate Service Unit of the NNPC, in her opening remarks emphasized the need for the oil and gas sector to key into the intervention initiatives of the Federal Government to halt the spread of the Ebola epidemic, stressing that what was needed was urgent action. She urged the industry to mobilize fully to support the containment efforts

In their contributions, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) present pledged that the forum shall also ensure that all measures needed and directed by the health authorities will be implemented fully to ensure the protection of not only the health and well-being of industry workers, their families and communities, but also those of their large international partners, traders, contractors, shippers, and their numerous associates as well.

About 60 delegates including CEOs of IOCs, indigenous operators, oil and gas service companies including the NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), were present at the meeting.

The Oil and Gas Industry Coordinating Team on EVD was established by the Petroleum Minister following the confirmation of the Ebola Virus outbreak in Nigeria.

The objectives of the team include: leveraging the capabilities of the oil and gas industry to support the Federal Government intervention efforts to contain the EBV disease; mapping out containment and management strategies by working in tandem with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies; synergizing, harmonizing and coordinating the response of companies within the sector to ensure maximum impact and value for the companies, host communities and the entire country.

The team is also mandated to ensure timely availability of current information on the disease and its spread within the oil and gas sector, their host communities and the country as a whole; and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, advise and update the general public on all matters as they may affect or impact the sector.