*PPRO Counsels ESUT Students Against Cultism, Others
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, has called for restructuring and capacity building of staff at international points of entry to further strengthen the prevention protocols against Ebola virus.
Ugwu, who is also a member of the Presidential Committee on the Prevention and Preparedness Against Ebola, made the call recently during the Enugu State Ebola Emergency Response Preparedness Committee meeting in Enugu.
The meeting, chaired by the Commissioner, focused on assessing the level of preparedness and addressing challenges/gaps at the point of entry and other preparedness response pillars/teams.
The Commissioner noted that there was a need for further restructuring and capacity building, particularly in passenger contact management and other operational areas, to ensure a more effective response system.
Ugwu acknowledged the significant improvements recorded at the point of entry from the last assessment of the committee.
According to him, various interventions have enhanced preparedness, adding, however, that some steps needed to be taken and existing ones strengthened, to ensure holistic target.
Ugwu stressed that every individual, unit or department at the point of entry must clearly understand their roles and expected contributions, as effective coordination remained key to a successful emergency response.
The Commissioner commended the efforts of the risk communication pillar of the response committee, but charged the team to intensify awareness campaigns.
He stressed that health messages on the Ebola virus and other diseases of public concern should reach every segment of the population, including churches and communities across the state.
Ugwu reiterated the commitment of the state government of Gov. Peter Mbah to strengthen the state’s preparedness through continuous monitoring, improved coordination and capacity development of all response teams.
He urged all stakeholders to remain proactive, ensuring that identified gaps are promptly addressed to safeguard the health of residents and maintain a resilient public health system in the state.
During the meeting, updates were presented by the different pillars/teams of the state committee, including surveillance, risk communication, and other emergency response teams.
Officials of some of the state’s health partners such as World Health Organisation (WHO), Corona Management System and Jhpiego, attended the meeting and pledged to support the Ebola Prevention and Preparedness Committee.
It would be recalled that Enugu State has been designated “state with high risk of importation of Ebola virus” due to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, that receives international visitors.
Ebola virus has been reported and is being contained by WHO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Enugu Police Command Counsels Students
In another development in the state, Enugu State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Superintendent (SP)!Daniel Ndukwe, has urged students to shun cultism and other social vices and embrace responsible lifestyle and leadership.
Ndukwe made the call while delivering a keynote lecture titled: ‘Choices, Character and Consequences: Confronting Cultism and Other Social Vices on Campus’, at the inauguration of the newly-elected Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Students’ Union Government (SUG) executives.
He charged students to imbibe positive character traits that would enable them become positive “brand ambassadors of the institution and society.”
The police spokesperson noted that while every student enters a university or higher institution with dreams of success, those dreams are ultimately shaped by the choices they make.
He warned that cultism with its closely associated evils such as drug abuse, examination malpractice, cybercrime and other social vices, though often disguised as shortcuts to success, only lead to academic failure.
According to him, cultism also culminates in damaged reputations, criminal prosecution and, in some cases, loss of lives and promising futures.
He urged them to choose their friends wisely, resist peer pressure, uphold integrity, and remember that “today’s choices become tomorrow’s consequences.”
Ndukwe reaffirmed the commitment of the State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police (CP)) Mamman Giwa, to ensuring a safe and secured learning environment in ESUT and other institutions in the state.
The police spokesman enjoined students to remain vigilant, law-abiding and promptly report criminal activities or suspicious persons within and around their campuses.
Congratulating the new student leadership, Ndukwe described their election as a call to selfless service, stressing that “leadership is about influence, responsibility and leading by example.”
He challenged them to promote peace, unity, discipline and academic excellence, while working with the university management and security agencies to combat cultism, drug abuse and other social vices on campus.
The event was declared open by the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, and attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ernest Nwoha, the Provost, the Registrar, the University Librarian, Dean of Students Affairs, other principal officers, former SUG leaders and students.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Prof Ugwu.
