How Ebola Disease Got To Nigeria

Now that we got the 'all clear' and we have been able to reasonably restrain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, we can take a more dispassionate look at the issue, its genesis and some ramifications.

But first, a huge credit must go to the Lagos State government.  In particular, the Governor, Fashola, his Health Commissioner, Dr Jide Idris, and his Special Adviser on Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina deserves high praise indeed.  Similarly, President Jonathan and the Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu deserves commendation for their co-ordinating role, robust leadership and tireless work in containing the Ebola spread.

Special praise must go to Dr Adadevoh and her team at First Consultant Hospital.  I dread to imagine what would have happened in Lagos and in Nigeria had the index case not been taken to that hospital and placed under the care of Dr Adadevoh.  Her foresight and effective management of that case probably saved our collective bacon.

We cannot leave out the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other foreign health experts who were on the ground and in the forefront providing us with support.  However, when you think that there are many more WHO personnel and foreign health workers in Ebola-stricken countries such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and these countries have not managed to contain Ebola and in fact, the disease in on the increase in those places, you begin to appreciate the more, the effectiveness of Nigeria's local strategy and response.

Nigeria tackled Ebola disease head-on and won.  It was text-book epidemiology triumph.  In doing this, we probably helped prevent greater spread of the disease to other parts of the continent.

So kudos to all involved.  They have all done very well.  And you know you've done good when even America sends its personnel to study how you've done it!

But how did Ebola get to Nigeria?
First, we can confirm authoritatively now that Mr Patrick Sawyer did come to Nigeria knowing full well he had contacted the Ebola disease.  He came here looking for a cure.  His widow in New York attested to that much.  Mr Sawyer wasn't alone.  Another Liberian diplomat sneaked through the border and sought cure for the same disease in Port Harcourt.

Furthermore, there were news reports of a few Ebola-stricken West African nationals who tried to cross into Nigeria through the Niger and through some South-south borders.  They were all turned back.  Also, three travelers suspected to be Ebola-infected were apprehended after they crossed into Ogun state through the Imeko-Afon border.

Why did all these people come, and wanted to get into Nigeria?  They were practically invited to come by the now former Minister for Information, Labaran Maku.

On Wednesday 2 nd April 2014, Jonathan was away in Brussels.  In his place, Vice President Sambo chaired the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.  Immediately after this meeting, while briefing journalists on its outcome, Maku declared to the world that Nigeria has Ebola virus disease vaccines.

The nigerian voice