“Meanwhile, the traditional means of distributing and receiving communion (Hand to Mouth) should be maintained until we give contrary information.
“In doing this, Priests should be cautious and pay attention to ensure that they do not touch the tongue of recipients and if necessary a purificator should be used while distributing Holy Communion,’’ he said.
Martins ordered that the use of Holy Water Fonts at the entrance of the Church should be discontinued until the virus alert is lifted.
“This does not preclude private use of Holy Waters in homes and offices. Wash hand bowls and soap should be provided in the sacristy for regular use by Altar Servers and Priests while hand sanitisers are to be provided where necessary,” he said.
A report from Bauchi said that no medical or health facility had been closed to the public because of the Ebola reports.
The state Director of Disease Control, Dr Fanti Ahmed, told NAN on Friday that the speculation that a private hospital had been closed in connection with the disease was unfounded.
“As far as we in the health ministry are concerned, no hospital or clinic was closed in connection with Ebola virus.
“Everything is normal and we have intensified surveillance and will continue to take proactive measures to ensure that everybody is safe,” he said.
Similarly, Hajiya Halima Baba, a woman activist with Women Empowerment Development Initiative, an NGO in Sokoto, urged Nigerians to always keep their environment clean and maintain good personal hygiene for the prevention of Ebola virus.
Baba told NAN that the spread of the deadly virus was more prevalent in dirty environments.
She called on the federal government to do more in its campaign against the spread of the disease in the country.
The activist also called on the federal government to provide screening and protective kits to health officials especially those deployed to ports and borders as a measure of safe guiding them from being contracted with the scourge.
She explained that massive awareness campaign would enable Nigerians adopt preventive measures for the overall development of the health sector.
Baba also called for active participation of traditional and religious leaders in sensitising people on the dos and don’ts of the Ebola virus.
Besides, she urged Nigerians to complement government effort by to reporting people with abnormal cases of bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting to appropriate authorities for prompt medical attention. (NAN)
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