Ebola: We've To Put A Stop To Shaking Of Hands For Now - Fashola

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has called for a
temporary stop to traditional shaking of hands as part of measures to
stop the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

Fashola advocated for this measure after the emergency meeting of
state governors and health commissioners from various states of the
Federation, Federal Government officials & World Health Organization
Representative in Nigeria with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on
Wednesday.

"We have to drop our traditional behaviours like shaking of hands and
nobody should be offended", he stated while briefing State House
correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

He also urged people to stop defecating and urinating in public,
particularly at this time of the country's health crisis.

He said, "This is not the time to make fast naira. Next week will be
defining for us, to know what cases have multiplied. This is not
something you keep in religious house to pray. Infected persons are
not patients you can move by taxis, if they need prayers now it can be
done electronically".

"We are now 99 per cent following the cases. We need to have a 100 per
cent because if we have one infected person, it is a global risk not
just Nigeria", the Lagos governor added.

Fashola also stressed the need for health workers to be provided with
advanced equipment to protect them in their first line of duty.

The Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime said, "from the reports of
the meeting it is clear Nigeria has the capacity to fight ebola but
there is need for standardised practice in combating it".

The WHO Representative in Nigeria,Dr Rui GamaVaz, commended President
Jonathan for convening the meeting of governors and commissioners of
health towards fighting the disease.