CONCERNED about the vulnerability of its members to the Ebola Virus Disease, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) have launched the World Health Organization’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for its members.

The booklet is expected to, among other things, assist to provide safeguard tips against Ebola, which has so far killed some doctors and health workers in Nigeria.

The Union also Tuesday conducted a one-day training for its members across the country.

President of the Union, Ayuba  Wabba, said the workshop aimed to provide adequate knowledge on the characteristics and modes of transmission of the Ebola virus disease.

He said: "“It is important to stress the fact that EVD’s early symptoms are very much like those of non-haemorrhagic fevers like malaria and typhoid. This calls for both increased care in tackling these fevers which are relatively endemic in our environment, while eschewing stigmatization and discrimination in providing health care services.

“It has been established that the main mode of transmission of the disease is through uninfected persons contact with the blood or body fluids of infected persons, their remains or surfaces contaminated with such infected fluids. This is particularly so where the uninfected persons has broken skin or mucous membrane, but could also be through skin pores."

Noting the high fatality rate from the ailment, he stressed:  “It is thus of the utmost importance that priority be given to prevention and control. Thus far, 2,615 persons have been infected out of which 1,427 have died. Health care workers are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of health care delivery as attested to by the World Health Organization. Indeed, more than 240 health care workers have become infected across West Africa since the advent of this, the deadliest outbreak ever of the disease.

"Out of this, 120, representing a whopping 50% have died, as stated in the recently press release of the World Health Organization titled ‘unprecedented toll that Ebola is taking on health workers’. In Sierra Leone for example, 3 doctors and 37 other health professionals have been killed by the infection.

“In Nigeria, as at today, there have been 16 confirmed cases. Out of these, there have been six reported casualties and not less than three have been health care providers. The need for protection, action and solidarity by and with health workers has never been more pressing, which is why the theme of this workshop is ‘Fighting Ebola Together: Protection, Action, Solidarity."

All health-workers, he stressed, were at risk and should safeguard against infection with the virus.

Also speaking, General Secretary of the Union, Marcus Omokhuale, said the training was also a train the trainer programme.

 “This workshop is organized purely to educate our members, to give them first hand information on the protective measures they are supposed to take. And, we are also launching WHO’s guidelines, we are giving out this guideline. They are being trained so that they can go back and step it down to all the nook and cranny of the whole federation," he noted.