President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan welcomes today’s declaration by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) that Nigeria is now officially Ebola-free
after 42 days without any incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease.
President Jonathan dedicates the certification to the many patriotic
health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly,
some of them paying the ultimate price, to stop the deadly virus in its
track after it entered the country in July this year.
The President seizes this opportunity to also reiterate his appreciation
of the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international
health organisations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians
who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or
complied with all directives issued by health authorities to defeat the
virus.
He believes that Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed success against Ebola is a
testimony to what Nigerians can achieve if they set aside their
differences and work together, and calls on Nigerians to strive to
replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted
against Ebola in other areas of national life.
As the nation applauds the success of its collective effort to stop the
transmission of the Ebola Virus within Nigeria however, the President
warns that the entire country must remain fully alert and vigilant against
the re-entry of the virus.
President Jonathan fully shares the view expressed by WHO in its
congratulatory message to Nigeria that while we have won a battle against
Ebola, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world
are declared free of Ebola.
The President consequently directs that all the anti-Ebola measures taken
after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and
that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering
the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the
virus.
He also urges all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola
advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State
Health authorities.