By: Jesse Everly, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, has stated that the Ebola virus disease is not a death sentence.
He also disclosed the State Government’s willingness and preparedness towards tackling the Ebola virus disease by providing two isolation centres in Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Ovom and Okolobiri respectively.
Dr. Owei disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in his office in Yenagoa recently.
The Commissioner believed that the tertiary institution in the health sector has the best manpower, stressing that the two isolation centres are in line with the World Health Organization ( WHO) standards in the management of EVD.
He expressed happiness on the EVD sensitization in the media, adding that the response from the masses shows that the people are getting the message; thus, the press being proactive has been helpful and the sensitization is having a positive effect.
Dr. Owei further stated that the corporate bodies were invited and have expressed willingness to assist in giving some help in the fight against the outbreak of Ebola virus disease.
Commenting on the extension of school resumption, the commissioner said it is a pathetic situation which is going to affect the academic session, pointing out that the children are vulnerable and it is government’s concern to protect the young ones.
He stressed that those who have already been infected and recovered seemed to have some high level of immunity against Ebola virus, adding that in Bayelsa, there is no case as such and nobody is quarantined which they are battling to make it so.
Nevertheless, he continued that doctors are human beings and everybody is afraid of death but that notwithstanding, it is their responsibility to save lives which is part of the oath they have taken.
He, however, said that there is a stigma attached to the virus through contact with very sick patient(s) but have distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to doctors.
Dr. Owei, who enumerated some challenges such as poor funding and difficult terrain which have warranted non accessibility to a lot of health facilities; also stated that they are implored in ensuring to take health care to the nooks and crannies of the state.
He stated that in revamping the health sector which there are already very sound health practitioners and a good retinue who are experts in various health facilities would still need a lot more of personnel to manage the health sector, whereas ensuring continuous training of health practitioners.
