The Federal Government is strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola as the number of identified contacts linked to the country’s confirmed case rises to 53.
According to a situation report, the government is identifying and equipping treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry while improving isolation facilities, surveillance and referral systems for suspected cases.
The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has undergone a needs assessment to determine its readiness for isolation and treatment, while an infection prevention and control assessment is planned for Karu General Hospital in Abuja to evaluate its capacity to accommodate additional patients if necessary.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has also approved a weekly payment of ₦100,000 per person for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine to support their feeding, accommodation and family needs.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the intervention became necessary after some contacts raised concerns about the financial burden of complying with public health monitoring measures.
He urged state governments to make adequate financial and logistical provisions for contact tracing, isolation and other emergency response activities, stressing that the responsibility should not rest solely with the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCDC said 53 contacts had been identified and categorised, comprising 44 people associated with the health facility where the patient was treated and nine others, including household members and people who attended to her during an earlier emergency room visit.
Contact tracing and daily monitoring are continuing, with health officials also identifying secondary contacts who may have been exposed. Idris disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell tested negative for Ebola.
The agency has reviewed its case definition to help health workers identify suspected infections and is strengthening laboratory testing, infection prevention and control measures, and training for healthcare personnel.
The situation report also confirmed that genomic sequencing of the case had been completed by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.
Meanwhile, the government is increasing stocks of personal protective equipment and other essential supplies, strengthening surveillance at airports and other ports of entry, and improving public communication to address misinformation about the disease.
The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria after visiting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus on October 20.
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to remain calm, practise regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of suspected cases, and cooperate with health officials. It also warned against stigmatising people placed under monitoring.
Post comments (0)