by Laila Ibrahim

Subject to the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan, 519 Nigerians will soon leave the country for the Ebola hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as volunteers. He said the approval of the President was still however being awaited before they leave the country as volunteers. The was announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu after the Federal Executive Council Meeting today.

The minister said he also briefed FEC on the high-level meeting which held at the United Nation General Assembly.

“I represented Mr. President at the high level meeting on Ebola Virus disease where so many World leaders participated including the US President and Chairperson of African Union, the President of the ECOWAS Commission and other World leaders all participated with the UN Secretary General and the Director General of the World Health Organisation in attendance.

“The main purpose of the meeting was to review the global situation on Ebola Virus disease and for funds to be raised in support of the UN proposed intervention in three most affected countries to half the epidemic of Ebola Virus disease,” Chukwu said.

He said at the meeting Nigeria reiterated that she had already donated even before the first case of Ebola Virus disease a total sum of $3.5 million which was made up of $500,000 to each of those countries and the balance to the common ECOWAS fund for Ebola Virus disease.

Chukwu also informed the FEC that the President has already given approval to the Federal Ministry of Health to train health personal to these three countries in the area of special laboratory work to strengthen capacity in those countries.

“I also informed them that as part of a Nigeria’s contributions to the international team that will be set up to tackle Ebola a Virus disease in those countries, already Nigeria volunteers from different Heath professions have been registering with us, willing to join the international force that will go to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to help out with the containment and as of now 591 Nigerians have already registered with us in three registers we opened in Lagos, Abuja Port Harcourt.

“Before we allow them to leave, certain conditions must be met, the President has to approve for them to leave Nigeria for them to leave as volunteers,

“Secondly, they have to be given proper training on how they would avoid the disease and ensure that they don’t get it. They have to be fully and properly trained according to our standards in Nigeria which is fairly high,” the Minister added.