WHO Declaration: Jonathan Orders Continued Vigilance at Borders

In his determined bid to leave nothing to chance and avoid complacency, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered all relevant agencies of government to retain all anti- Ebola measures in place since the Ebola virus entered the country, until the disease is completely wiped out from the world. President Jonathan celebrated today's declaration by the World Health Organization(WHO) that Nigeria is completely free from Ebola after 42 days without any incidence.  

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president-jonathan-official-portrait.jpgPresident Jonathan dedicated 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 seized the opportunity to also reiterate his appreciation of the contributions of the 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.

A release by presidential spokesperson Dr Reuben Abati stated the president, "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 said he shared 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 statement continued, "The President consequently directed 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."

President Jonathan also urged all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities.

President Jonathan is moving Nigeria forward.