Communiqué Issued at the End of the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Held Between Thursday 28th and Saturday 30th August 2014, At J.JUMAC Hotel, Awka, Anambra State. 

 

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK: THE AWKA DECLARATION 

The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Awka, capital city of Anambra State, to deliberate on some contemporary national issues, particularly the present outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), among other things. 

 

Arising from that meeting, NEC made the following resolutions: Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Ebola virus is one of the deadliest viruses known to mankind, killing around two-thirds of those who contract the disease. The outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa is a regional disaster that has elicited global concern, including Nigeria as it has continued to evolve with many barriers standing in the way of rapid containment. 

 

With no immediate end in sight, the sub-region, with a population of over 350 million people, is witnessing the most challenging epidemic since the first outbreaks of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1976. On 08 August 2014, the World Health Organization declared the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa an international public health emergency, signifying that this is the largest EVD outbreak to date and will require a coordinated response to control the outbreak and stop further spread. 

 

As at 18 August 2014, a cumulative total of 2,473 EVD cases (laboratory-confirmed, probable and suspected) including 1,350 deaths with a case fatality rate of 55% have been reported in the current EVD outbreak in West Africa. Here in Nigeria, EVD was imported into the country by the late Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American, who travelled by air from Liberia to Lagos on July 20, 2014. He was admitted to a Lagos hospital immediately on arrival, and died five days later. Since then, there has been subsequent local transmission (including cases in healthcare workers), and to-date, Nigeria has recorded 15 confirmed cases of EVD, out of which four have died (with a case fatality of 27%) while eight are currently under treatment. The importation of EVD to Nigeria clearly demonstrated that we are very prone and more at risk really in this Ebola virus as a nation that is opened to several diplomatic and international travels. 

 

Consequently, concerted efforts are required from all and sundry to possibly contain this epidemic and save the over 170 million Nigerians from the risk of being exposed to this deadly disease. NEC stressed the need for all to be on the alert as a result of the danger posed by Ebola and called on the Federal Government to police the nation’s borders and ports to avert further spread of the disease. NEC commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government so far in containing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, and attempts at establishing isolation centres in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

 

However, it was observed that the essential structures and framework for containing the outbreak on a national scale are yet to be in place, particularly at the state and local government levels. NEC therefore calls on Federal Government to take a step further in ensuring the creation of functional EVD control committees at all levels of government. The NMA remains committed towards the health of Nigerians, and is ready to work with governments and her agencies with the aim of joining forces and developing strategic actions to prevent the introduction and/or spread of EVD in other parts of the country. In response to the current outbreak, the NMA has put in place the National EVD Response Committee headed by a renowned Public Health Physician, Prof Michael C. Asuzu, and similar committees at the state level. 

 

The NMA has mandated these committees to continue to liaise with their government counterparts to synergize their responses for the containment and treatment of any outbreak of the Ebola virus in various parts of the country. NMA urged Nigerians, especially those in the “at-risk” states and in other states not to panic but rather keep safe by seeking best practices, collaboration, and advocacy about what constitute the risks and sources of contracting EVD. 

 

To this end, the NMA is currently developing useful educational documents to inform and guide healthcare workers and the general public regarding EVD. These will be made available to the general public as soon as they are ready. NEC commended President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR for the Federal Government’s N1.9 billion Ebola intervention plan, and Aliko Dangote, for the donation of N152, 956, 250.00 for the establishment of a National Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Yaba, Lagos, all in an effort to control and halt the spread of the deadly contagious EVD. 

 

NMA also urged all states and local governments as well as other spirited individuals to make similar financial commitments to ensure the availability of essential materials and smooth logistic operations. NEC was deeply concerned that many states are yet to establish reliable isolation facilities, proper ambulance vehicles for conveying suspected cases to the isolation facilities and the unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in quantities that could guarantee their use at all times as indicated. 

 

NEC regretted the controversies that have trailed the proposal for the establishment of the Surgeon General of the Federation. It noted that the office, if established, would have had a nationwide structure in place to promote enforcement of public health issues and even lead the “command force” against public health emergencies before the advent of EVD. NEC relishes the support for this office by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, and now urges him to take every step necessary to actualize this in the overall interest of the nation, appreciative of the just concluded National Conference for supporting this proposal by including it as one of the over 600 proposals it made to the nation. 

 

NEC expressed appreciation to health workers (notably doctors and nurses) who have taken responsibility from the front by attending to people who are showing symptoms and people suspected to have contact with affected individuals, especially the very first case, the late Liberian-American diplomat, Patrick Sawyer. Sadly enough, some of them have passed-on following exposure to EVD in the course of attending to their patients! 

 

Casualisation of Medical Profession: NEC condemns casualization of the Medical Profession currently going on in Lagos State and some parts of the country, and urges an immediate end to this practice. 

 

Appreciation 

1. NEC appreciated with gratitude the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, for reversing the suspension of residency training programme and for unconditionally reinstating the “sacked resident doctors”, in the country. 

 

2.NEC commended the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, President of the Senate of Nigeria, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator David A.B. Mark GCON, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, CFR for the various roles they played in resolving the Federal Government-NMA impasse. 

 

3. NEC also expressed deep appreciation to the various roles played by the National Assembly, the SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Ministers of Health and Labour, Prof C. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Chief Emeka Wogu, respectively, Senior Government Officials, the various ministries and agencies of government, friends of the Association and other well-meaning Nigerians towards resolving the face-off. 

 

4.NEC expressed deep regards to the underlisted (though certainly not exhaustive) for their intervention, contributions and exemplary guidance that helped resolved the crisis between the Federal Government and the NMA: 

1) His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel E. Uduaghan 

2)Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa 

3) His Excellency, Senator Dr Chris Ngige 

4) Hon. Ndudi Elumelu 

5) Senator Tunde Ogbeha 

6) Dr. Doyin Okupe 

7) Elders of the Medical Profession 

8) Chairman and Members of MDCN 

 

Lastly, the NMA wishes to thank the general public, the good people of Nigeria and the media for their understanding and co-operation throughout the industrial action. 

Sir Dr L. Kayode OBEMBE PRESIDENT

Dr Adewumi ALAYAKI SECRETARY GENERAL