The Federal government has directed hospitals nationwide to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention measures to contain the Ebola outbreak, warning that 15 states are yet to update their response plans.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the directive in Abuja during a press briefing on the government’s response to the outbreak.
Pate said health facilities have been instructed to make adequate provisions for suspected cases and protect frontline health workers.
While briefing the National Economic Council (NEC) he disclosed that 21 states have already accelerated preparations and strengthened their capacity to respond to possible spread, but cautioned the remaining 15 states to speed up their readiness.
He said the national response is being coordinated 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, Africa CDC.
Pate urged private hospitals to promptly report suspected cases, while calling for the training and protection of health workers.
“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,” he said.
He added that the Federal government has informed the Federal Capital Territory authorities and would continue to engage State governments to ensure hospitals under their jurisdictions are adequately prepared.
The directive comes as health authorities intensify contact tracing, surveillance and emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the FCT.
Pate said the government is taking steps to ensure the infection does not extend beyond the index patient and develop 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.
The minister explained that Nigeria’s response involves not only identifying and monitoring people who had contact with the infected woman but also preparing healthcare facilities to detect, isolate and manage any additional suspected cases.
He stressed that health workers are particularly vulnerable during outbreaks because of their direct contact with patients, making strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols essential.
According to him, the government has activated its incident management system, with the NCDC coordinating the operational response in collaboration with the FCT authorities and other relevant agencies.
- Media Report