Ebola: There Is No Expatriate Drift In Rivers – Commissioner

The Rivers government said on Monday that the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the state has not caused any expatriate drift from their work places.

The commissioner for health, Dr Sampson Parker, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that government has not received reports of expatriates leaving the state because of Ebola outbreak.

‘’ Rather, expatriates have been coming to the state. People leave and also come. When a group finishes their term, they leave and we have observed that more people still come to do business in the state,’’ he said.

According to Parker,  the international community has been very cooperative, they understand the situation. “They are careful but we have not seen any drift,’’ he said.

He said, however, that the only Ebola positive patient at the quarantine centre in the state had been treated and discharged.

‘’The good news is that the only Ebola positive patient we had at the quarantine centre has been treated and certified free to go home. She has been discharged,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some expatriate staff of some construction firms building roads in Rivers say they are not leaving the state, despite the Ebola disease.

Some of the expatriates of Asian and European descent, who chose to remain anonymous, said they had been cautious since the disease was first recorded in Lagos.

One of the expatriates supervising the construction of Rumuolumeni road in Port Harcourt said, “we are aware of the outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria.

‘’ But, we are impressed with the way the Nigerian government handled the outbreak.

‘’ I am more impressed with President (Goodluck) Jonathan’s immediate response. Instead of blaming anybody, he tackled it head on and we have seen the results today.

‘’ There is nothing to fear. We have to be careful and follow the various instructions on how to avoid contracting the disease,’’ he said.

Another expatriate staff building the Elioparanwo road, near Port Harcourt, said, ‘’ from our work place, staff have been educated on personal hygiene and the need to be very careful not to contract the disease.

‘’ I am not leaving the country. The situation is not that bad. I am happy the Nigerian government is checking the spread and very soon, it will be curtailed,’’ he said.

However, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria ( SPDC), a firm with many expatriates in Nigeria, said the company was monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the country.

The company’s spokesman, Mr Precious Okolobo, told the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) that the health and well-being of its staff was a priority.

‘’ The health and well-being of our staff is our top priority.

‘’Shell companies in Nigeria are monitoring the Ebola outbreak very closely, and liaising with health authorities on the steps being taken to contain the disease.

‘’A health advisory has been shared with staff and contractors. A health education campaign for staff and contractors is also continuing as part of efforts to inform people on the disease,’’ he said.

Okolobo said the company commiserated with families of those affected by the disease.

‘’ It is hoped that efforts at both national and state levels will help to quickly contain the disease,’’ he said.(NAN)