Lagos (Federal Ministry of Health Report) – The Supervising Minister of Health, Khaliru Alhassan (Dr) has revealed that 250 Nigerian volunteers who will be offering vital services to contain the Ebola Virus Disease in the neighboring West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone as well as top government functionaries, diplomats, development partners and private sector chieftains will converge on the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos – the venue of the formal departure on December 3, 2014.
According to him, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Bashir Wali and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Dr) will be present at the occasion. He added that the volunteers are part of a team of a 1000 strong health personnel force being deployed under the African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).
“250 volunteers are presently concluding their training in Lagos which is mandatory before they can be deployed. The contingent will depart Nigeria on December 4, 2014 and will undergo another round of training in their country of deployment. The health team consists of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other cadre of health professionals,” he noted.
“The high point of the departure programme will be the official launch of the Africa Against Ebola Resource Mobilization Campaign under a partnership between the African Union and the private sector. This initiative is aimed at attracting funds which will further support Ebola containment efforts.”
Khaliru Alhassan informed that Nigeria’s success in containing the Ebola Virus Disease is widely seen as a reference point, reiterating that Nigeria still stands at risk from the virus if neighbouring African countries are affected by the scourge.
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