The Federal Government has convened a high-powered meeting of stakeholders in the health sector to review its current efforts that have been put in place in the containment of Ebola Virus Disease.
A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba and obtained by THE PUNCH said the meeting under the auspices of the Treatment Research Group on EVD, has been scheduled for October 9, 2014 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The meeting which will be declared open by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, will attract experts and stakeholders from across the nation.
Adesugba said, “The experts will review the current national efforts, available resources, and develop a road-map for research on Ebola and other emerging diseases among Nigerians.
“The outcome of the high level meeting will help to galvanize support on a common agenda among experts and stakeholders, including the organized private sector, that share similar concerns on EVD and other diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and globally.”
Chukwu had on August 4, 2014, inaugurated the TRG on the disease which immediately commenced work based on its terms of reference.
“Consequently, the work and expertise of TRG members facilitates the closure of knowledge gaps in the understanding of the Ebola Disease, develops potential treatment options, while formulating a more efficient containment framework to better equip the nation against any future outbreak of Ebola or any other related emergent disease.
“Nigeria has been commended nationally and internationally for its robust and effective national response to the Ebola Virus Disease. Since August 31, 2014, no new case of the Virus has been reported in Nigeria,” Adesugba stated.
She expressed optimism that the World Health Organisation will soon officially declare the EVD over in Nigeria.
