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| Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Executive Governor of Rivers State (Photo credit: PUNCH) |
Rivers State Government says the
patients of the late Dr. Iyke Enemoah, who
died of Ebola have been identified and restricted, monitored by PUNCH & GRAPHITTI NEWS.
Our correspondent learnt that the
late doctor died at the Good Heart Hospital, Port Harcourt. The deceased, a doctor at Sam Steel Clinic on East-West Road, was rushed to the hospital
after he took ill with symptoms of Ebola.
He was said to have operated on a
woman on Monday after secretly treating the ECOWAS diplomat, who was part of
Patrick Sawyer’s team, but took ill the next day.
It was gathered that he was ill
for only three days before he started vomiting blood, while passing out
faeces stained with blood.
He was said to have been rushed
first to Prime Hospital where he was rejected and then taken to the Good Heart
Hospital, whose managing director is said to be a cardiologist.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who made
a special broadcast to the people of the state on Thursday confirmed that the
doctor died on August 22, as a result of what was suspected to be Ebola virus
disease.
He said the state Ministry of Health
on becoming aware of the conditions of his death, immediately commenced
investigations and began tracing those who had contact with him.
He said, “As at today, about
100 contacts from a hotel, and patients of the hospital where he was
treated until his demise have been identified and restricted. The different
locations are being decontaminated.
“Our investigation reveals that an
official of the Economic Community of West African States on the team that
received late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American diplomat who died of Ebola
haemorrhagic disease in Lagos, Nigeria made a trip to Port Harcourt where he
checked into a hotel and met with him.
“About a week after his
departure, he took ill and was rushed to a hospital with symptoms of
fever, diarrhea and vomiting. In the course of treatment, the managing
physician became suspicious and took blood samples for investigation.”
He said a few days later,
he died, precisely on August 22, stressing that his widow, who is
also a medical doctor and who cared for him during his illness had taken ill.
He said the wife of the deceased had
been quarantined, but that the diplomat who was seen by the late
doctor “is alive and well.”
He urged Rivers people not to panic,
saying they should remain calm and go about their normal businesses.
He said, “The Government of Rivers
State is doing everything possible to contain the effects and spread of the
virus.
“We have the material and human
resources we need to fight and defeat the deadly virus. Officials from the
Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already here
working with the state ministry of health to contain and combat the virus.
“Now, we must all endeavour to
adhere to basic hygiene rules. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
and avoid unnecessary body contacts like shaking of hands.”
He said anyone with symptoms
indicative of diarrhea, high fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, excessive
weakness of the body and unexplained bleeding, should call the state’s
emergency numbers.
Amaechi said early detection and
appropriate medical attention increased the chances of survival of an infected
person, adding that people had survived Ebola and more people could survive it.
“There is no need or reason to hide or run away.
Seek immediate medical help. Call our Ebola help lines,” he said.
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