Vaccine May Not Be Ready Until Jan 2015, Says Tomori

RENOWNED Virologist and President of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) Professor Oyewale Tomori yesterday said that the much-expected breakthrough in Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cure and vaccine might not be ready until January or February 2015.

 

Tomori, who just returned from experts' summit on the EVD in Geneva, Switzerland, said necessary guidelines before approval would delay its readiness till next year.

 

In Abia, the state government declared that it would henceforth certify corpses before burial, ruling that families or relations of the deceased must not convey corpses for burial without the "Certificate of Death" issued by the appropriate or authorized hospitals, which must be backed by the Ministry of Health.

 

In the case of those that died of the EVD, the state government shall through the Ministry of Health ensure that appropriate arrangements and measures are taken before the burial is effected.

 

State Director of Public Health, Chief Franklyn Orji, who made this new policy public yesterday in Umuahia at a one-day seminar organized for stakeholders in health and officers drawn from state and federal establishments in the state, hinted that the state house of assembly will soon enact a law to this effect.

 

To help tackle the challenges of the dreaded virus, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPENG) donated two Hilux vans and an ambulance to the Rivers State Government.

 

Deputy Managing Director of the company, Nicolas Brunet said the donation was part of the company's corporate social responsibility aimed at ensuring that people within its operational areas live healthy.

 

Also, Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association donated screening tents to selected hospitals across the state to aide screening of suspected EVD victims in line with Federal Government's preventive mechanisms on the deadly disease.

 

Chairman of the Association, Professor Afekhide Omoti made the donation to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where the Managing Director of the hospital, Professor Michael Ibadin said the hospital now screens patients brought to the hospital of (EVD) before full treatment is commenced on them to prevent the outbreak or spread of the disease.

 

And in Oyo State, as the weeklong celebration of the annual 2014 Oranyan festival kicked off in the ancient Oyo town, former Archbishop of Methodist Church, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu assured that there was no fear of EVD assuring the programme would be hitch-free.

 

Ladigbolu, who is the Vice-Chairman of the festival's planning committee spoke with reporters at Alaafin Palace in the ancient Oyo town over the activities lined up for the festival said the efforts of the government at the various levels at curtailing the deadly disease were the source of the committee's confidence.

 

However, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has criticized the measures so far taken by the Federal and state governments in checking the spread of the dreaded disease.

 

ASUP at its zonal meeting held at the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State at the weekend lamented that most health institutions in the country have no adequate power supply, water and effective sanitary systems to combat the scourge.

 

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Vaccine May Not Be Ready Until Jan 2015, Says Tomori