The Lagos State Government has declared its resolve not to use any
drug other than the American ZMAPP for the Ebola patients in its custody.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide idris, disclosed this yesterday.
As at yesterday, it was still sketchy if the drug has arrived the shores
of Nigeria.
Dr Idris said another drug, Nano Silver, being suggested by the Federal
Government by a Nigerian scientist is a natural health product and “the state
is not ready to take chances with the health of the patients at all.
“Should we have access to ZMAPP now, right away, we will start the
administration on the patients.
“We are attending a meeting soon with the Task Force on Ebola to know if
the ZMAPP drug is available as stated by the Federal government,”Idris said.
There was confusion at press time as to whether the Nano Silver drug,
which the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said was expected to
arrive Nigeria on Thursday actually arrived as scheduled.
Findings by our correspondent yesterday showed that the country was yet
to take delivery of the drugs.
It was gathered that the only thing that the country had received were
personal protective equipment and some personnel who are in the country to
train Nigerian health workers.
The country, it was gathered, was still expecting the drugs, which might
come in any time next week.
Meanwhile, Idris disclosed yesterday that First Consultant Hospital
where the first case of EVD occurred would be reopened soon.
This, he said, followed the mandatory three rounds of state certified
decontamination process.
He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Clinic, was shut
after the detection of a confirmed case of the disease at the facility.
He said the state would facilitate the decontamination process of the clinic,
adding: “25 patients and health workers at the facility when the case was
detected are presently under surveillance.”.
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