The Nigeria Computer Society has suggested the deployment of technology to enhance the attainment of Nigeria’s health goals.
In this regard, while the NCS commended the use of emerging media (mobile and social networks) to spread the Ebola Virus Disease awareness, it decried the use of text messages and social media to create fear, and spread rumours.
The President of the society, Prof. David Adewumi, said caution and deep sense of responsibility and not stigma, should be the focus at these times.
“The fact that EVD is still spreading wildly in West Africa calls for continued vigilance and embrace of recommended health practices by the populace to improve the quality of detection and prevention,” he said.
Adewunmi said the organisation was ready at all times to collaborate with the federal and state governments to utilise information technology to support and enhance the handling of the EVD threat and national health security.
The NCS president, however, commended the federal and Lagos State governments for their emergency response in containing the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Nigeria.
“Addressing the epidemic in a quick, decisive, cooperative and coordinated manner is appreciated. Public communication has so far been realistic, clear, and transparent,” he said.
He said, “The fact that the World Health Organisation has declared the EVD outbreak in West Africa an international health emergency and one of the largest public-health emergencies in recent history indicates the enormity of the threat from EVD.
He also said, “NCS commiserates with the families that have been affected and most especially, those who have lost family members as a result of the Ebola scourge.
“Respect and honour go to the heroes and heroines, epitomised by the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, consultant physician, First Consultants, who paid the supreme sacrifice while working to stop the spread of the disease in Nigeria. May this nation never forget them.”
Meanwhile, the NCS said in a statement that the emergence of EVD raised national health and security issues, saying public health had become an integral element of any nation’s national security because it affects lives and livelihoods.
It said infectious diseases could cause substantial damage in terms of lives lost and socio-economic impact, just as with physical wars and attacks.
“In addition to EVD containment, the response from Nigeria should encompass the proper functioning of the public health system,” the organisation noted.
The special medical team constituted by the federal and state governments to lead the fight against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease has commended Airtel Nigeria for its support and contributions to the ongoing effort against the spread of Ebola
The Ebola team in Lagos comprises top federal and state governments health officials, personnel from the World Health Organisation, experienced medical personnel from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control & Prevention and other partner agencies.
Airtel Nigeria donated 100 handsets, complimentary airtime for each line and a Closed User Group facility to improve overall communication and efficiency of the response.
The Technical Adviser to the Minister of State, Health as well as Incident Manager, Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, Lagos, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said Airtel responded swiftly and showed enthusiasm to support the Ebola centre.
Shuaib spoke shortly after receiving the donations from the Airtel team.
He said, “The phones and other facilities donated by Airtel will be used by response staff in the field to communicate more effectively and efficiently. Additionally, these phones will be given out to EVD patients that need to be in isolation at the hospital.
“The phones will allow these patients to communicate with their families, enabling them to receive the support and encouragement they need to recover from the disease.”
He noted that the phones would be destroyed once the patients and workers were out of the centre.
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