Rivers gets N200m from FG to fight Ebola

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—RIVERS State Government, Thursday, confirmed that the Federal Government released N200 million to the state to assist in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.

State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, said schools in the state will not resume on September 22 because there were still about 254 persons under surveillance in the state.

He said there was no Ebola patient at the Ebola treatment centres at the moment in the state but that there was need to complete the circle on persons under surveillance before schools could resume.

He said: “I received good news, Wednesday, from the Minister of Health, that the President has approved the release of N200 million to Rivers State to support the state’s Ebola response.

“I hope that we will receive the money as soon as possible. For about a week now, we have not had any new case at the treatment and isolation centres and that really gladdens my heart.

“Surveillance is still on. Remember that we got a robust registration of about 526 persons on surveillance.

“Today, as I speak, it has dropped to about 254. More will drop as the days go by. And by September 22, by the grace of God, a huge number will drop. We hope none of them will come out symptomatic or positive.”