The state government, especially through the Commissioner for Health has power “to compulsorily apprehend person suspected to constitute danger to the society.I have directed the health commissioner to do so if necessary, to compulsorily apprehend person suspected to constitute danger to the society because he or she can lead to the spread of epidemic in the state
August 12, 2014 – Lagos State Government has vowed that it will invoke the 2003 Public Health Law to arrest any Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) suspect who declines to surrender self for screening or for isolation.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who made the revelation at a meeting with chairmen of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas said that more than 200 persons, who had primary and secondary contact with the index case are currently being observed and watched to ascertain their health status.
The governor explained that the danger of the deadly virus requires all the stakeholders to work together to ensure that the virus did not spread beyond what could be controlled or managed easily.
He noted under the public health law, the state government, especially through the Commissioner for Health has power “to compulsorily apprehend person suspected to constitute danger to the society.I have directed the health commissioner to do so if necessary, to compulsorily apprehend person suspected to constitute danger to the society because he or she can lead to the spread of epidemic in the state.”
The governor acknowledged that any person, who might constitute threat to the society under isolation, explaining that it “is a 2003 law and if there is need, we will exercise the power in the public health law.”
He urged the environmental workers to join the fight the disease. “This is the time when your department is challenged. This is an opportunity to learn because it is not all the time we have challenge we seek foreign experts to proffer solutions. We have more workers so that the work can be shared.”
He lamented the danger of not getting enough manpower to tackle the Ebola scourge, noting that the danger “is that when it gets out of control it may prove difficult for anyone to control the spread.”
“If Nigerians are reluctant to take the front seat for action that involves guaranteeing the safety and well being of fellow Nigerians and leaving same to foreigners, they would have no justification to being regarded as true professionals.”
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina said the state government is watching over 200 people who had primary or secondary contacts with the index case and is embarking upon massive media campaigns on the disease.
She warned against touching corpses dumped on the road and called on residents to contact the Ministry of Health or the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU).
