Lagos, 12th September, 2014 - The WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz,  has conveyed the gratitude of development partners for the assistance rendered to the Nigerian government by the Dangote Foundation in providing financial support for the setting-up and running of the National Ebola Emergency Operations Center in Lagos and for the Foundation’s readiness to support Public health emergencies with adequate resources.

The WR was speaking when he met Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the chairman of the Dangote Foundation at its Corporate headquarters in Lagos to brief him on the progress made on the response to Ebola outbreak since the importation of the disease into Nigeria on the 20th July, 2014 and summed up that “the Ebola outbreak has provided another opportunity to solidify the exiting collaboration with the Dangote Foundation”

Dr. Vaz re-assured the renowned businessman that with a sensitive surveillance system in place for early detection, improved screening of travelers at the Points of Entry (PoE), adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and technical expertise in place to register contacts of both confirmed as well as suspected cases, gives the confidence for timely record of any new cases in order to stem the chain of transmission in Nigeria.

In another breathe, Dr. Vaz drew attention to the 60% of the confirmed cases recorded among health workers which was “indicative of a weak infection control capacity in healthcare facilities’. 

The Chairman of the Foundation in his contribution, acknowledged the critical role of WHO in the Ebola response and assured that  he is not only interested in supporting the containment efforts but also deeply involved in strategic partnership  with pharmaceutical companies and scientific developments to further strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian Health systems to respond to  public health emergencies. Alhaji Dangote implored WHO to provide the Foundation with protocols and SOPs for procurement of commodities and supplies to effectively curb the menace of the EVD.

The WR’s entourage and the Staff of the Dangote Foundation utilized the opportunity of the interaction to discuss the remarkable achievements with the polio eradication initiative, residual challenges and strengthening routine immunization in Nigeria.