Lagos Government To Supports First Consultant Hospital

Lagos State Government has announced plans to support First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, where the first index Ebola case was diagnosed.

Dr. Jide Idris, the state’s Commissioner for Health, who made this known on Monday, said the sum of N50million would be given to the management of the hospital as business support gesture.

First Consultant Hospital during the Ebola outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria

Speaking in Alausa, Idris further revealed that the same gesture would be extended to each of the 20 victims of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) either dead or alive. He said the move should not be misinterpreted for compensation but should rather been viewed as a goodwill following what they passed through.

“Having addressed the human angle in containing the outbreak, there is now the need to address the economic consequences. Under consideration are the following: Support to the affected persons including those alive and N50million lump sum as business support gesture to the First Consultant Medical Centre. This is with view to getting the people/businesses back on their feet and for businesses to re-secure patronage of their customers. It needs clearly be stated that this is not an attempt at compensation but a gesture of goodwill on the part of government,” Idris said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government would inaugurate a 24hour Ebola Surveillance Team to respond to any Ebola emergency if any case should arise again.

“Ebola Virus Disease Team on 24/7 standby is to be created with an ambulance as well as an EVD clinician team leader and a driver. Five of such teams will be available. Decontamination team consisting of at least a driver, two environmental health officers and a supervisor will also be created. Two of such teams will be available,” he said.

Responding to the World Health Organisation, WHO, recent report that Nigeria is now free of Ebola Virus Disease, Idris reiterated that the development was achieved through a combination of factors.

It would be recalled that on October 1, 2014, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, revealed the true heroes in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease EVD to include the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adedavoh, the first doctor to attend to Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer at the First Consultant Hospital, Obalende.

However, the Presidency and the former Minister for Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, described the late Adadevoh as an embodiment of godly doctor considering the circumstances leading to her death.  Few weeks later, First Consultants Medical Center released a statement regarding their first contact with the Ebola carrying Liberian Patrick Sawyer.