Restaurant operators in Abuja on Friday said they had maintained measures to prevent spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the city.
The caterers said that in spite of the certification of Nigeria as Ebola-free nation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Oct. 20, they would sustain the strategies to contain the disease.
Malam Musa Ali of Rosa’ Spot, Near NTA headquarters, Abuja, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the precautionary measures used during the outbreak of the EVD would be sustained.
“Even though WHO said there is no Ebola virus in Nigeria anymore, we have sustained our preventive strategies.
“Staff of the restaurant who package shawarma (fast food) for customers use hand gloves.
“We have improved the level of our personnel, business and environmental hygiene,” he said.
Ali also said that they have continued with training on “Health, Hygiene and the EVD” organised for the staff by health-related Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Mr Samuel Asue, Manager of Sinoni Restaurant that specialises in Chinese Cuisines, at Area 11, Abuja, told NAN that even after the EVD outbreak some months ago, their preventive strategies were still in place.
He said the introduction of frequent washing of hands by staff during the outbreak and provision of hand sanitisers for staff and customers had been maintained.
“We have also continued to maintain the reduction of pleasantries in the form of handshakes.
“Since the introduction of frequent fumigation of the restaurant’s environment to avoid any form of disease by the management, we have not looked back.
“Even though WHO has declared Nigeria an Ebola-free nation, that does not mean that we should relax or let it get into our heads, because our borders are still open for people from Ebola-infested countries,” he said.
A customer, Mrs Josephine Okafor also told NAN that most eateries still emphasize on hand washing and the use of sanitisers.
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