By Victor Ahiuma-Young

AS part of its health and safety programmes for the workplace and also a response to the general concern for the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, infection in workplaces and communities, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, recently organized two seminars in Lagos and Kaduna, aimed at promoting awareness and enhancing knowledge of members and allies on EVD, its causes and prevention.

The union equally explained that the workshop was also to develop the capacity of trade union officials to lead the prevention team in their workplaces.

Welcoming participants, President of the union, Mr. Oladele Hunsu, told the gathering that Ebola was not a new health challenge as it was an issue in 1976 in a remote village in Congo, explaining that while it was curtailed, but warned that with Nigerian population, it would be a disaster of catastrophic dimensions should it be out of control in Nigeria.

According to him, Ebola is real and more dangerous than we know. Awareness for now is the best way to avoid and control it as there is no cure. Please spread the message about the dangers of ebola to your family, colleagues at work, church or Mosque, and not the virus to them.”

In his remarks, Chairman of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Idowu Adelakun, recalled that during the 2014 May Day celebration, labour called on government to be proactive on the dangers posed by Ebola Virus Disease since it was already ravaging neighbouring West African countries.

He lamented that it was obvious that the advice was not heeded and however, expressed pleasure that Lagos State Government was involving workers, community based organizations and other stakeholders.

According to him, “EVD is no respecter of anybody, whether rich or poor. If it were for the poor alone, probably government would not have paid much attention to it.

But today, the President of the country can contract it and the state governors can equally contract it.”  Speaking, General Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, recalled sadly that EVD came into Nigeria on July 20 through a 40-year old Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

He said: “Sawyer was a diagnosed Ebola patient who mysteriously found his way to Nigeria and later died of the disease in a Lagos hospital on July 25, 2014.

The Liberian government had since apologized to Nigeria for the official complicity in exporting Ebola to Nigeria. However, the late global icon, Nelson Mandela said we should forgive but at the same time not forget so that our rights are again not violated.

Liberia, medical terrorism

“I agree with those who said by allowing Patrick Sawyer whose sister had died. of the same disease, the Liberian authorities had knowingly and inadvertently engaged in medical terrorism against a sister country — Nigeria. Sawyer, who possibly contracted the virus ‘from his late sister, was criminally cleared to engage in an ill-fated travel to Nigeria for a conference organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) without notifying the Nigerian Government.

As a labour member of the National Conference, I urge President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the relevant recommendation of the Conference’s Committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters which says that Nigeria should promote discipline within the ECOWAS Community. Sawyer’s case was clearly another evidence of diplomatic indiscipline within ECOWAS for which Nigeria as usual pays the ultimate price.”

Awareness about EVD

Aremu who is also a Vice-President of NLC, reminded Nigerians that “there is no vaccine, and there is no cure for Ebola for now.

Survival rates can be as low as 1 in 10. So far in West Africa, just over 60% of recorded cases have ended in death. Like AIDS, prevention remains the best strategy we must employ. Above all we must make lifestyle choices which will help combat the epidemic.

This sensitization is put together to address the 5Ws and H of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, namely what it is, who can contact it, where it can be transmitted, when can it be fatal, which measure can be taken to prevent and manage the symptoms, and how can it be contained,.

“The World Health Organization, WHO, has called this Ebola outbreak an international emergency.

The worst affected countries include Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Nigeria has so far confirmed 10 cases of Ebola, including the doctor who treated the Liberian man that brought the disease to Lagos. The doctor is said to have recovered and had been discharged.

However five deaths have been recorded in Nigeria including Patrick Sawyer who brought the disease to Nigeria, the nurse who participated in the initial management of the index case and a member of staff of West African regional economic body ECOWAS.

Others that have tested positive to the virus are undergoing treatment at isolation centres. A total of 169 people were being monitored in Lagos, after eight others were cleared, including all of Sawyer’s primary contacts from when he entered the country.”

Occupational health, safety

NUTGTWN General Secretary noted that “we can see that the first victims are working people, namely nurses and doctors.

Thus Ebola is primarily also an occupational health and safety challenge for organized workers. At risk are the port workers, namely air transport, sea and road entry ports. Others are nurses.

We commend the efforts and measures so far taken by the Federal and State government particularly Lagos State to contain the spread of the disease.

The disease has been declared a national emergency. We call on all stakeholders to support and cooperate: with the Federal Government’s effort to curb the spread of the virus in the country. ‘We also commend individuals and organizations that are complementing government’s effort to rid the nation of this disease.

Continuous enlightenment

“Above all, there is the need for continuous enlightenment and sensitization on the Ebola virus. This explains why we are holding this workshop to enlighten our members about the disease and ways to prevent it. Like other public health issues, the first victims usually are the workers in this case the health workers notably doctors and nurses.

Health care is a labour intensive industry and, in most countries, Health Care Workers, HCWs, constitute a major sector of the workforce. They comprise a wide range of professional, technical and support personnel working in a large variety of settings. In addition to health professionals, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, social workers and others involved in clinical services, they include administrative and clerical personnel, housekeeping and dietary staff, laundry workers, engine.ers, electricians, painters and maintenance workers who repair and refurbish the .building and “the equipment it contains.

It is self-evident therefore that trade unions have a lot to do in educating members about the danger of Ebola. This enlightenment therefore should have been better done by NLC whose members are daily exposed to the disease.”