Washington D.C. – By Alltimepost.com.
As the mass hysteria about the deadly Ebola virus disease continues, with the most recent case identified in Texas, the United States of America, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Ade Adefunye has doused speculations about his host country’s plan to test Nigerians arriving at the U.S. ports of entry.
In his reaction yesterday in Washington D.C. to a recent publication in a Nigerian newspaper of October 2, 2014 to the effect that U.S. airports planned Ebola screening of Nigerians arriving the country, the Ambassador allayed the fears of his people.
He said that such report was false, based on information he received from The United States Director of Disease Control, Mr. Tom Frieden.
Below is the full text of the Ambassador’s press statement, made available to Alltimepost.com:
My attention has been drawn to a publication yesterday (October 2, 2014) in one of Nigerian major newspapers to the effect that U.S. airports plan Ebola screening of Nigerians arriving at U.S. airports.
The Embassy contacted the U.S. authorities and hereby reports that there is no truth in this report.
The United States Director of Disease Control, Mr. Tom Frieden, denied any of such plans. He stated that: “Restricting travels between the U.S. and West Africa where Ebola virus is widely well-spread will likely be ineffective and will make it harder for health officials to root out the virus.”
He went on to say that the only way can get to zero risk is by stopping the outbreak at the source in Africa.
With particular reference to Nigeria, Mr. Frieden said that Nigeria’s extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with a rapid and focused intervention.
The Center for Diseases Control has dispatched its personnel to study how Nigeria contained the killer disease. They will also visit Senegal to study its model.
Also speaking during an emergency session at the United Nation Security Council on Ebola on Thursday, the Director of World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, told participants to take a clue from the stable condition in Nigeria and Senegal.
As if to join in the celebration of Nigeria’s independence, the influential New York Times in its October 1 edition carried a front page report on how Nigeria effectively tackled Ebola.
The U.S. government, especially the Department of Health, is very much impressed with the success achieved by the federal, Lagos and Rivers state Governments in combating Ebola.
The announcement by Nigeria that it will assist other African countries to combat Ebola has been well received by the U.S. government and public.
Nigeria has donated 3 million dollars and sent its officials to assist affected African countries. The U.S government, with Nigeria’s Minister of Health, is working to assist affected West African countries in tackling Ebola.
To this effect, the U.S Department of Health postponed the invitation to Professor Chukwu to take part in a series of discussions and activities on Ebola in U.S. so that he can concentrate on assisting West African countries on Ebola.
The Embassy therefore appeals to Nigerians not to be worried of being subjected to any extra check at U.S. ports of entry. All Nigerians with qualified U.S. immigration papers are welcome here.
