Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos are being stigmatized by their employers and landlords.
This is rather sad and needs to be redressed as fast as possible. Information reaching Pulse.ng has it that some employers and landlords in Lagos State are discriminating against people who survived the deadly Ebola Virus Diseaseand are either laying them off work or sending them packing from their houses.
This move is not being taken kindly by the Lagos Stategovernment as they have sent a very stern warning to these employers and landlords to desist from these acts of stigmatization of Ebola Survivors or they would face the full wrath of the law, stating that many of them are being evicted or fired after being given a clean bill of health.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, reacted strongly to this at a press conference where he said the government will descend hard on anyone who discriminate against the survivors of the disease.
The social problem being faced by discharged cases has been reported to the government. This range from stigmatisation, eviction from their accommodation, being asked to stay away from work and termination of employment.
We have had cases of employers just terminating the employment of their workers who were just mere contacts, not even suspected cases.
We believe this is unfair and we feel this impedes on their fundamental human rights.
Now, the Ministry of Justice will take the matter up. Anybody, whether a discharged patient or a contact followed up, who feels stigmatised, can petition the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of Lagos State and the government will take that matter up on their behalf.
Stigmatisation will reverse the gains so far made in the containment and management of this outbreak. People who come down with Ebola may not come out and this may jeopardise not only their lives, but their family members and other people they come in contact with. That’s why it is essential that people should stop that.
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