In a sustained bid to contain the spread of the
dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in and around
the University community, the management of the
University of Ilorin has procured Ebola preventive
equipment worth N1.2 million. The equipment include personal preventive kits,
face masks, boots, hand gloves, automatic soap
dispenser, infrared thermometre (non-contact
forehead) and disposable bed spreads. Unveiling the equipment at the University Health
Centre last Thursday (September 11, 2014), the
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, said
that the procurement of the anti-Ebola kits was part
of the University's preparedness to tackle the
epidemic headlong. The Vice-Chancellor thanked members of the
Unilorin Ebola Response Committee for their
foresight and prompt preventive response, adding
that all returning and new students would be
screened before they would be allowed entrance
into the campus. Prof. Ambali also charged the University health
workers to be at alert and to follow laid down
procedures in the case of an outbreak. He called on the University's Director of Health
Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ajiboye, to come up with
request for other necessary anti-Ebola kits for
immediate approval. Presenting the equipment to the Vice-Chancellor,
the Director, Health Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Ajiboye, said
that the kits are for the protection of staff and
students, noting that prevention is better than cure
particularly in the case of Ebola. Dr. Ajiboye gave assurance that the University is
ready and protected against any eventuality. The Director, who is also a member of the Ebola
Response Committee, explained that the
Committee would place the hand sanitisers in
strategic locations on campus, such as the Senate
Building, Faculties, the Walkway and the Unilorin FM
Station, among other places. A major highlight of the event was the symbolic
demonstration of the use of the Ebola preventive
kits by one of the doctors at the University Health
Centre. Earlier in the week, the Unilorin Ebola Response
Committee led by its Chairman, Prof. Ayo Ojuawo,
briefed the Vice-Chancellor on the activities of the
Committee. Prof. Ojuawo told the Vice-Chancellor that the
Committee had taken cognizance of the implication
of new students being expected on campus soon
as well as returning students and students on
immersion programme. He said there is no cause
for alarm, as the Committee has put measures in place for comprehensive screening of everybody. The Chairman disclosed that all those attending
conferences on the campus would be screened,
explaining that their movement history and contact
details would also be documented. Prof. Ojuawo said that the Committee is working
closely with the Kwara State Ministry of Health
Committee that is saddled with the responsibility of
handling any case of the outbreak of the disease. He disclosed that portal cabins have also been
provided on the main campus and at the College of
Health Sciences to serve as quarantine spots for any
suspected Ebola patient on the two campuses. The Chairman disclosed that there is an on-going
awareness campaign at all levels in the University to
educate staff and students on Ebola prevention tips.
He stressed that every available medium is being
exploited to get the message out. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, who was
represented at the briefing by the Deputy Vice-
Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Yisa
Fakunle, commended the Committee for “doing a
good job”. He gave assurance that the University
management would soon make available an ambulance dedicated for the management of the
EVD. He tasked the Committee to put measures in place
to guard against the outbreak of EVD during the
forthcoming 30th Convocation ceremony of the
University. He enjoined the Committee not to leave any stone
unturned in the University's bid to prevent an
outbreak of the disease on the campus.


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