Lessons from the anti-Ebola victory

Hitherto the virus had been reaping a grim human harvest in the three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The panic and mass hysteria generated by this development was understandable. With a population higher than the combined total of the other 15 member-states of the ECOWAS sub-region, everyone was bracing for a […]

Hitherto the virus had been reaping a grim human harvest in the three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The panic and mass hysteria generated by this development was understandable. With a population higher than the combined total of the other 15 member-states of the ECOWAS sub-region, everyone was bracing for a disaster of monumental proportions. It did not require a degree in mathematics to realize that the high mortality rate in the affected countries would look like a joke in comparison if the virus should gain a foot-hold in Nigeria.
The anxiety was accentuated by the widespread knowledge that the quality and quantum of health and medical infrastructure, including all categories of health professionals, have been less than adequate for several decades now, compelling Nigerians who can afford it to regularly embark on the so-called “medical tourism” to virtually every developed or medium-income country. It does appear, after all, that in the past decade or so, more Nigerians of the super-elite extraction have died in foreign health facilities than in hospitals here at home. Indeed, it enhances the family’s prestige for the obituary to stress that fact.
However and fortunately, the grossly under-estimated inherent capacity of Nigeria and Nigerians to rise to the occasion, especially when the issue relates to corporate survival and national pride, kicked in. A few examples would suffice. Anyone who is conversant with the details of the prosecution of the Nigerian civil war cannot miss (though the episode itself was of course a monumental tragedy) the steely determination and professionalism exhibited by officers and men on both sides.
Similarly, the country’s exploits in the sports arena have not gone unnoticed, beginning from the lifting of the inaugural Under-17 football World Cup in China in 1985 by Nduka Ugbade and his teenage colleagues. Of course, many other sports landmarks had followed, notably the “miracle of Damman” against the Soviet Union in 1989 in Saudi Arabia at the Under-21 tournament. Last but not the least, the formal switch in 1973 from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right was effected with remarkable clinical efficiency supported by an unprecedented media publicity blitz.
That Nigerian spirit came to the fore once again to nip the Ebola threat in the bud. The Federal, Lagos and Rivers states governments deserve to be specially commended for the swift action taken while ignoring any potentially counter-productive issues arising from political differences. The measures taken to trace and quarantine suspected primary and secondary contacts of Mr. Sawyer were simply splendid. Publicity and mass education over the Ebola issue were also superb.
At the height of the Ebola scare, I observed a little drama along a dirt road in my neighbourhood. Two rather unkempt boys aged about nine or 11 were busy kicking some objects around even after the objects fell into a dirty puddle. Two other boys were walking in front of me and were eyeing the other two with obvious disgust. At that point, I overheard one of the former whispering to his colleague: “These boys don’t know anything; they are risking an Ebola attack.” Despite their childish exuberance, the boys might not have been running any significant risk of contracting Ebola from that puddle. However, the point being made here is that awareness regarding personal hygiene was raised considerably among the general population.
In the end, only nine deaths were recorded nationwide out of 20 proven cases of Ebola infection. Nigeria’s sterling performance in the anti-Ebola war did not fail to attract global attention. It was therefore no surprise that on Monday, October 20, 2014, exactly three months after the first reported case, the World Health Organization (WHO) in an event in Abuja, officially declared Nigeria Ebola-free, following  a six-week period during which no new cases had been reported in the country.
The Country Representative of WHO in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vaz, on behalf of his organization, commended the Nigerian government and its partners for their success in containing the Ebola virus disease. Going down memory lane, he recalled the country’s success in tackling polio transmission as well as guinea-worm infection. President Goodluck Jonathan dedicated the WHO certification to the patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who had worked diligently to contain the outbreak. Special mention was made of Dr. Stella Adadevoh and three other hospital staff who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Outgoing Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that the critical factor in the fight against Ebola was strong, effective, focused and committed leadership by President Jonathan. He also commended the Lagos and Rivers states governors, WHO, the mass media and development partners, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Having laid the initial hysteria to rest, it is perhaps now time for sober reflection regarding the country’s health policy, infrastructure and, of course, preparedness to handle future health emergencies. President Jonathan aptly declared that despite the WHO certification, vigilance at the nation’s points of entry would continue in order to prevent a re-entry of the virus into the country. It is pertinent to stress that health awareness campaigns must be intensified and sustained in homes, schools and public institutions. A complete overhaul of the country’s health infrastructure is called for at this stage.
The idea of hospitals dedicated to specific ailments and located at various geo-political zones of the country has long been mooted. The question is: how much has been done to sustain and consolidate action in this direction? Nigerian medical specialists in diaspora should be actively encouraged to return and set up practice in the country. The country possesses the potential to achieve “reverse medical tourism” where foreigners, especially fellow Africans, begin to seek medical solutions in our institutions.
Belolisa wrote this piece from Abuja, FCT