Ebola: 7 hospitalised as parents make kids drink salt-water

The Plateau State Commissioner of information and Communication, Mrs. Olivia Dazyem has heatedly condemned a situation where parents and guardians, compelled their kids and wards to drink water filled with seven spoonful of salts under the belief that it will make them to resist the Ebola virus.

This was even as it was gathered that at least seven persons, including children had been hospitalized in the state over too much consumption of salt.
Dazyem urged people to cultivate the habit of reporting to the nearest hospitals, if they sensed or noticed symptoms of the Ebola virus.

Over the weekend, someone posted on Facebook that the Ebola virus could be prevented by drinking and bathing with salt water. The post went viral, as Nigerians started scrambling for salt water bath. Two people were said to have died, while over 20 landed in hospitals for over consumption of salt.

The State’s Commissioner of Health, Honourable Fom Dakwak, buttressing Dazyem’s argument said: “We’re yet to have any case in the state.” Dakwak was represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Alias Pede who disclosed this during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists centre, Plateau State council.
He appealed to residents, not to panic and should disregard rumour of   Ebola outbreak in the state.

He said: “We are strengthening our health system by training 200 health personnel in all the 17 local government councils, to ensure rapid surveillance and check of the disease. The Ministry has carried out basic enlightenment campaign. The campaign made use of English and Hausa languages in order to reach as many people as possible in the state.

“We also made use of multicultural approaches by recommending the general covering of mouth, hands washing and avoidance of direct contact with infected person. People should also cover their noses, mouths while coughing or sneezing.”
Dakwak urged people of the state to maintain hands washing with soap and keep a clean environment to ensure healthy living.
The state government advised people to dash to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Plateau Specialist Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), if they are sick or known anybody that is sick.
Investigation shows that social culture has been broken owning to the spread of the Ebola virus. People no longer shake hands, kiss or hug.

New Telegraph