Lagos State To Give N50M To First Consultant Hospital

monjola sotubo

October 21, 2014 8:46 AM

The Government of Lagos has pledged to donate the sum of N50 million to the First Consultant Hospital in Obalende where the first Ebola case in Nigeria was recorded

The Lagos State Government has promised to give the sum of N50 million to the First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, where the first case of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria was diagnosed.

This was disclosed on Monday, October 20 by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who described the donation as a business support gesture for the medical centre.

He said:

“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 N50m lump sum as business support gesture to the First Consultants Medical Centre.”

“This is with a view to getting people and businesses back on their feet and for businesses to re-secure patronage of their customers. It needs to be clearly stated that this is not an attempt at compensation but a gesture of goodwill on the part of government.”

“The Ebola Virus Disease Team will be on 24/7 standby with an ambulance as well as an EVD clinician team leader and a driver. Five of such teams will be available. A 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.”

Idris also added that the gesture would be extended to others who were affected by the disease not as compensation but as a measure of goodwill due to their ordeal.

Ebola was brought into Nigeria by Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer who was admitted at the First Consultant Hospital after he fell sick upon arrival.

He infected 11 workers at the hospital including late Dr Stella Adadevoh who made the call to keep him confined and late 25-year-old nurse, Justina Ejelonu who had just started on the job.

The hospital also had to be shut down and some of its equipment discarded due to exposure to the virus.

Nigeria was declared Ebola free yesterday, October 20 by the World Health Organization after losing 8 citizens to the disease.

monjola sotubo