Ebola: FG Warns 15 States To Speed Up Preparedness

The Federal Government has warned 15 states to accelerate their preparedness for a possible spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), directing hospitals nationwide to strengthen infection prevention measures, provide isolation facilities and ensure adequate protection for frontline health workers.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the directive while briefing the National Economic Council (NEC) on the country’s response to the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Pate said 21 states had updated their Ebola response plans, while the remaining 15 had been urged to complete their plans and establish appropriate preparedness and response mechanisms without delay.

He said the Federal Government was coordinating the national response through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The minister urged public and private hospitals to prepare isolation beds, strengthen surveillance, promptly report suspected cases and ensure that health workers were adequately trained and protected.

“We have notified all our hospitals to make room for bed capacity, isolation, and prepare their health workers in terms of infection prevention in these cases, because health workers are on the front lines,” Pate said.

He added that the Federal Government was working with the FCT authorities and state governments to ensure that hospitals across the country were adequately prepared to detect and manage suspected infections.

The directive comes amid intensified contact tracing, surveillance and emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the FCT.

Pate said the government was taking necessary steps to prevent the infection from spreading beyond the index case and developing into community transmission.

“We don’t want it to go beyond it, and there is no need to panic, but we have to be vigilant,” he said.

According to the minister, the response involves identifying and monitoring people who had contact with the infected woman, while ensuring that healthcare facilities are equipped to detect, isolate and manage any additional suspected cases.

He stressed that health workers faced particular risks during disease outbreaks because of their direct contact with patients, making strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols essential.

Pate disclosed that the government had activated its incident management system, with the NCDC coordinating operational activities in collaboration with the FCT authorities and other relevant agencies.

He said most states had developed response plans with the guidance of the NCDC, but some were yet to complete theirs.

“Most of the states have already response plans, which were developed with the guidance of the NCDC. Those that have not finished their response plans, we’ve asked them to quickly finish their response plans,” he said.

The minister announced that the government would meet with state commissioners of health and engage commissioners of information to ensure better coordination of public communication and emergency response measures.

He also called on private healthcare providers to strengthen their surveillance systems and promptly notify public health authorities of suspected cases.

Pate said private hospitals were particularly important to the response because the infected woman had reportedly sought treatment at a private facility before the infection was confirmed.

“The private sector is important because, as you saw, this case went to a private facility. In 2014, it was a private facility,” he said.

He urged private practitioners to remain alert to symptoms that could suggest Ebola, particularly among patients with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, and to promptly contact public health authorities rather than manage suspected cases without notifying the appropriate agencies.

The minister further disclosed that additional funds had been provided to the NCDC to strengthen the response, while the WHO and Africa CDC were supporting Nigeria.

He said the government had invited Prof. Christian Happi, a genomics expert based at Redeemer’s University, Ede, to complement the NCDC’s work and support further investigations into the virus.

According to Pate, genomic sequencing would help improve understanding of the virus and provide scientific evidence to guide the country’s response.

The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is distinct from the Zaire ebolavirus responsible for the major West African outbreak of 2014 to 2016.

Pate advised Nigerians experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, to isolate themselves and promptly contact public health authorities.

At the 161st NEC meeting, chaired virtually by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the council received an update from Pate on the Ebola situation in the FCT.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the minister reassured the council that Nigeria had the institutional capacity to contain the disease.

Pate identified coordination and governance, screening at points of entry, laboratory testing capacity, logistics for essential supplies and personal protective equipment, and effective public communication as critical components of the response.

He commended the 21 states that had updated their response plans and urged the remaining 15 to expedite the establishment of appropriate preparedness and response mechanisms.

The minister said Nigeria had successfully managed Ebola in the past and could draw on the experience of its public health institutions to contain the current case.

“The Federal Government has competent authorities to deal with this. We have done it in 2014, and we have good public health institutions. Nigerians should be reassured,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, follow public health information from trusted sources and avoid spreading misinformation and unverified reports.

Pate promised regular updates on the situation and said he would soon receive a report on the case.

FG Intensifies Ebola Awareness Campaign

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has directed agencies under his ministry to intensify public enlightenment on Ebola following the confirmation of a case in the FCT.

Idris gave the directive to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said accurate and timely information was critical to containing the disease and preventing public panic.

“The Federal Government is taking every necessary step to contain this case and protect Nigerians. Accurate and timely information is one of our strongest defences. Our agencies must reach every community, in every language, with clear facts on how Ebola spreads, how to protect ourselves and where to report suspected cases,” Idris said.

He directed the agencies to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to ensure that all information released to the public was verified and evidence-based.

The minister also tasked the NOA with deploying its nationwide offices for grassroots sensitisation in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, community groups and the media.

The ministry said it would strengthen engagement with broadcast media organisations, including the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, to expand public awareness of Ebola prevention and containment.

The collaboration would support the dissemination of verified health information, the production and broadcast of public enlightenment jingles, and the development of information, education and communication materials in Nigerian languages to reach communities nationwide.

Idris urged Nigerians to remain calm, rely on official information and avoid sharing unverified claims on social media.

He also advised members of the public to report suspected cases immediately through the NCDC’s toll-free, 24-hour emergency line on 6232.