Lagos To Prosecute Employers, Landlords Over Ebola

Forum 9 years ago

Lagos To Prosecute Employers, Landlords Over Ebola

Any landlord or employer of labour who sacks two patients who survived the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in Lagos, southwest Nigeria would face prosecution, this is according to Lagos State Government.

Dr. Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos state made this disclosure on Tuesday, 9 September, 2014, during a news conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Lagos
The commissioner added that it is sad that some employers and landlords would want to stigmatise people who were identified with Ebola and survived the disease.

He also said the First Medical Consultant Centre had been certified Ebola-free and that the hospital had been given the clearance to re-open for business, urging Lagosians to patronise the facility as it is safe.
Ebola screening at Lagos airport.

Idris informed that two cases of stigmatisation by employers had been referred to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution, saying that the case would only be dropped if the employers withdraw their stigma cases against the two Ebola survivors.

The commissioner appeals to the general public not to stigmatise people with Ebola-related cases.
“The social problem being faced by discharged cases has being reported severally. This ranges from stigmatization, eviction from their accommodation, being asked to stay away from work and termination of employment.

“We’ve had cases of employers just terminating the employment of their staff who were just mere contacts, not even suspected cases.
“We believe this is unfair and we feel this impedes on their fundamental human rights. I wish to implore all Lagosians once more not to stigmatise all cases and contacts that have been given a clean bill of health and passionately urge all of us and all employers inclusive to facilitate their reintegration to the society,” he said.