Lagos 12th September, 2014 - The Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the State that recorded the first Ebola case in Nigeria, has emphasized that in spite of the laudable achievements publicized about the response in many quarters “our recent experience with the Ebola virus disease has taught us a lesson that the disposition of complacency is not a luxury available to us” as long as the West African sub-region is not declared free from the Ebola scourge.

The Governor was responding to Dr. Rui Vaz, the WHO Country Representative’s  concern about the risk of complacency due to the reduction in the number of cases during a courtesy call on His Excellency  at the Government House in Alausa, Lagos on 11th September, 2014. The Governor assured  that “there must be an enlarged capacity to deal with outbreaks in a world where borders are fast disappearing”.

He told the WR that other efforts to contain the spread of the virus include an assessment of the level of risk before the resumption of schools as according to him ‘the resumption of schools is dependent on   evidence to show that our level of preparedness presents a first line of defense”.

Equally, the Governor, resonated with many other stakeholders on the resourcefulness and invaluable work of the WHO staff on ground at the time of the outbreak which as he recounted, ‘assisted immensely in the quick response and capacity building needed to contain wider spread’.

Dr. Vaz had earlier commended the prompt response and the enormous resources deployed to fight Ebola virus in Lagos. He also noted the continued efforts of the Lagos State Government to contain the virus.

The WR  said that ‘understandably, the Ebola virus disease response requires coordinated effort from around the world, but ultimately, the success rests with the government of Nigeria and its  multi-sectoral response’. Dr. Vaz underscored that WHO staff will continue to provide the required technical expertise to surmount any eventuality.

He further explained that WHO and other partners will continue to work with the government to engage the media in Lagos to reinforce awareness creation on preventive measures. Dr. Vaz pointed out that wider dissemination of messages, especially with regards to high risk of traditional burial practices, mode of transmission and risk factors needs to be sustained and scaled-up.

Government functionaries that graced the occasion included the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Special Advisor on Information and Strategy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board.

1. The WR, Dr. Rui Vaz and Governor Babatunde Fashola
2. Governor Fashola(center) WR, Dr. Rui Vaz, with WR's entourage and members of Lagos State Executive Coucil