Must Read! Ebola Virus And Lagos Transport System

Since the inimical entry of the renowned medical terrorist who imported the deadly Ebola into Nigeria in the guise of running a national assignment for his country, Nigeria has been in the conscious watch over the people who have, by any reason been in contact with Mr Patrick Sawyer.

The Ministry of health once posited that only 59 people had contact with him and they have since been under close surveillance. The people later increased to 89 as about two of them are already showing the signs of the virus.

Yesterday the doctor who treated Mr Sawyer has also been enlisted among the carrier of the virus as two more has been quarantined, having exhibited the symptoms of Ebola virus. WHO has however recorded 887 known death cases recorded as Ebola victims.

Now the big questions go thus:

Do we know how many patients the doctor must have treated “directly” and must have gone to their respective places, before she was diagnose of the virus?

Do we know where she had been since the time of death of Mr Sawyer and now? Continue..

With the rate and extent to which this virus is being transmitted as evident in the number of people who have been already infected, it is obvious that almost all Lagosians and by extension, Nigerians are at risk of contracting the virus.

We have been acquainted to how one can prevent himself from contracting Ebola through various means, some of which are listed below:

·        Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids, someone suffering from Ebola or already deceased from it.

·        Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when in risk of such contact.

·        Wear gloves, a mask, and a long-protective gown if coming within a meter of an infected patient.

·        Anyone suspected of contracting the virus should be isolated and public health professionals notified.

If we have to consider the daily activities of Lagosians, thematically from transportation sector, it is no doubt that we need more than these aforementioned conditions to living Ebola-free, at least until it is unarguably contained.

Where should we start from? Is it the BRT that contains about 44 passengers sitting while about 50 would be conditionally imposed to stand with both hands raised to accommodate a spouse who would stay glued to you till the journey do you part?

Is it the regular 14-sitter that would contain 4 people per sit as the conductor would squeeze himself as the biblical angelic addition to the stubborn three in the furnace of fire at the sight of LASTMA ahead?

 Have you experience that rush hour when about 30 commuters thrive to get into a 14-sitter bus at a time? Or is it the Keke-Napep that dangles you around other passengers as the rider tries to maneuverer his way out of traffic? 

How about those sudden sneeze and cough reflectively released by fellow commuter that goes on while in the bus? Oh dear’.

Has anyone used the cab from Badagry? Those cabs that should contain only three passengers would carry about eight at a time. Five persons would sit at the back, two persons by the passenger sides in front and shockingly, one person will manage the same sit with the driver!

 The least goes endless, showing that there’s more for commuters and the government to do, as a matter of urgency to save us from the clutches of Ebola.

My recommendations

Tougher as this might be for commuters and the transport agency, I believe that our health should be paramount to us than any other factor, however costly it might be. I can bet those who have been infected with the virus would have given anything to live normal life again.

I am appealing to the road transport agency to reduce the numbers of commuter in every bus to a bearable minimum. Let those sit that contain four persons be reduced to three to avoid too much body contact. In the case where there are fleshy passenger, let them sit in two.

The government should reach out to the BRT and LAGBUS operator to stop accommodating standing position for in their buses a while.

The Keke-Napep riders should not accommodate anyone by their side and avoid running along hinge-space sidewalks to avoid unnecessary manoeuvre.

As individuals, avoid buying Boli (roasted plantain) and roasted corn for the meantime. You have no idea how many hands must have sampled and rejected that one corn you will finally opt for.

Avoid unnecessary argument at vendor’s desk each morning you are off to work. You have no idea what your fellow debater is carrying.

If it be possible, start wearing hand gloves and nose-mask wherever you feel human contact is inevitable.

Remember that lovely wife of yours who you cuddle at night, remember those children who would come running to your open arms each time you get back home, remember those handshakes with a friend or colleague for a job well done, remember your yet-to-be-fulfilled dreams, Live safe.

While I commend the decision of Lagos state government to place a warning sign before our miracle working pastors to desist from accepting Ebola victims into the church for divine healing, I am also confident that the government will no doubt look into this areas and work out a solution to reduce the risk of avoidable transmission.

Be safe.