EBOLA: U.S OKAYS NIGERIA’S APPROACH

United States on Thursday commended the Federal Government’s successful handling of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

America’s Under Secretary of State on African Affairs, Amb. Linda Thomas – Greenfield, who was on a visit to the country, however expressed concern at the spread of the virus in other West African countries notably Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Thomas-Greenfield, who paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, commended the minister, his staff and the Nigerian government on the effective handling of the Ebola scourge in the country.

She said U.S and Nigeria are working assiduously to contain the virus in the country, adding that the efforts had been very successful.

Thomas –Greenfield said, “I commended the minister and his staff and the government of Nigeria on how effectively they have been working to deal with the Ebola outbreak here in Nigeria.

“They are taking the right steps to control this. And, they are having great success here. I appealed to the minister to assist neighbouring Liberia, Sierra-Leone as they also grapple with this terrible outbreak.”

She also denied allegation that U.S was not ready to assist Nigeria, especially with the trial drugs.

“That is not correct; I think the Centre for Disease Control has proactively supported all the countries in the West African region in dealing with the situation. It is not about Zmapp. There were six doses of Zmapp available; they were all used.

“What is important is how to control the spread of the disease. And, that is exactly what is being done here in Nigeria; and efforts are being made to have the same kind of success in Liberia,” the American official stated.