Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria, yesterday, said okada riders, their passengers and commuters of commercial vehicles could be at risk in the spread of the Ebola virus through body contact.
The MDCAN stated this in a statement signed by the President, Dr Steven Oluwole and Assistant Secretary General, Dr. A Adesokan, in Abuja.
The group faulted government’s communication on prevention approaches that lays emphasises only on handshake and contact with body fluid of those already tested positive for the virus.
It urged government to emphasise other ways to contain the spread of the virus.
The statement noted that the approach of prevention should not centre only on avoiding handshakes.
It noted that government campaign ignored the modes of transportation in Nigeria, which include crowded buses and motor bikes, which encourage intimate body contacts that exceed handshakes.
MDCAN statement reads in part: “Rigorous contact tracing were not instituted after the index case was identified in Lagos.
“The failure to model that infected health workers in Lagos may have transmitted to contacts whilst shopping, commuting, or recreating.
” Failure to model those contacts of Ebola cases in Lagos may have travelled to any other regions in the country.
” No evidence of establishment of Ebola management centres in all regions of the country.
” No evidence of procurement and distribution of safety equipments to protect staff.
“No evidence of training of staff to effectively manage cases.