Nigeria declared Ebola free by WHO

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Country Representative of World Health Organization, WHO, in Nigeria celebrating exit of Ebola in Nigeria, yesterday

In what has been described as a brilliant success story that shows that Ebola can be contained, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has officially declared Nigeria an Ebola-free nation, urging other countries currently faced with the challenge of contending with the epidemic to learn from Nigeria’s experience.

Announcing the declaration through its representative in Abuja, Rui Gama Vaz, the global health body said after six weeks (42 days) with no new cases, Nigeria is now free from Ebola.

WHO pointed out that the story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail.

This came as President Goodluck Jonathan urged a sustained war against the disease. Also, outgoing Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu described the declaration as a major milestone of the present administration.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, also commended the Federal, Lagos and Rivers State governments over the feat, saying it would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.