The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu, has warned against the stigmatisation of the Ebola disease
survivors, describing them as the safest people so far in the country
because they could not get infected with the disease again.
While
asking the media not to publish stories that could create panic in the
country, he also explained why the Federal Government rescinded its
decision in shifting the resumption date of schools in the country to
September 22.
According to him, the
early reopening of schools across the country will make it possible to
easily track any new case of people who are likely infected with the
Ebola disease.
The minister added
that the Federal Government was working with the police and the Nigeria
Customs Service to ensure the enforcement of the ban on interstate
transportation of corpses.
He said,
“People should not stigmatise against those who have survived the
disease. We are also promoting the awareness to reduce the
stigmatisation of those whose families were infected. In fact, the
survivors are the safest as far as Ebola disease is concerned. They have
the tougher antibodies to fight the disease. Some of them will soon
come out to the public to speak, but we need to respect their privacy.
“We
are doing everything to ensure the directive that people should not
carry corpses interstate. It is not a ban. The Nigeria Customs are the
ones in charge of stopping and inspecting any good which could be a
corpse and to know whether it is legal to transport such item.
“We
have also let the police know that they should do a stop and search. We
are working hard, but the truth remains that for now, we have banned
the repatriation of corpses to Nigeria but like we said if someone feels
it is important to carry the corpse of a loved one to his village,
there are conditions under which we do grant waivers.”
