By Mercy Joseph, Abuja
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. He said health facilities had been instructed to make adequate provisions for suspected cases and protect frontline health workers.
Pate, while briefing the National Economic Council, said 21 states had accelerated preparations and strengthened their capacity to respond to a possible spread of the disease. He urged the remaining 15 states to expedite their preparations.
He said the government was coordinating the national response through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, with support from the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
He also urged private hospitals to promptly report suspected cases and called 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,” Pate said.
He added that the Federal Government had informed the Federal Capital Territory authorities and would continue engaging state governments to ensure that hospitals under their jurisdictions were 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, raising concerns about the capacity of Nigeria’s health system to manage additional infections should the virus spread.
Pate said the government was taking steps to prevent the infection from spreading beyond the index patient 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 him, the government had activated its incident management system, with the NCDC coordinating the operational response in collaboration with the FCT authorities and other relevant agencies.
Pate said the Federal Government was also working with state governments to ensure that preparedness measures extended beyond Abuja, where the confirmed case was detected.
He disclosed that most states already had response plans developed with the guidance of the NCDC, but some had 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 said coordination with the states was crucial because an effective outbreak response required early detection, prompt reporting, adequate isolation facilities and the capacity to prevent infections within hospitals and communities.
He announced that the government would meet with state commissioners of health on Friday and invite commissioners of information to ensure coordinated public communication and emergency response measures.
Pate also called on private healthcare providers to strengthen their surveillance systems and promptly report suspected cases to public health authorities.
He said private hospitals were particularly important because the infected woman had sought care 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.
The minister urged private practitioners across the country to remain alert to symptoms that could indicate Ebola, particularly among patients with relevant travel histories. He advised them to establish links with public health authorities rather than manage suspected cases without notifying the appropriate agencies.
He disclosed that additional funds had been provided to the NCDC to strengthen the response, while the WHO and Africa CDC were supporting the country.
The government had also invited Prof. Christian Happi, a genomics expert based at Redeemer’s University, Ede, to complement the NCDC’s work and support further investigation of the virus.
Pate said the authorities intended to conduct genomic sequencing to improve their understanding of the virus and strengthen the evidence guiding the response.
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in the region. The strain is distinct from the Zaire ebolavirus responsible for the major West African outbreak of 2014 to 2016.
Pate urged Nigerians experiencing symptoms such as fever, headaches and muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories or possible exposure, to isolate themselves and promptly contact public health authorities.
Speaking to the NEC, Pate said 21 state governments had updated their Ebola response plans and urged the remaining 15 states to accelerate the establishment of preparedness and response mechanisms.
At the council’s 161st meeting, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, members received an update 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, Pate allayed fears of a major public health crisis and assured the council that Nigeria had the institutional capacity to contain the outbreak.
“Pate identified coordination and governance, detection at points of entry, laboratory testing capacity, logistics for essential kits and personal protective equipment, and effective strategic communication as critical components of the response.
“The minister acknowledged the efforts of 21 state governments that had updated their response plans and urged the remaining 15 states to expedite the establishment of appropriate preparedness and response mechanisms,” the statement read.
Pate said Nigeria had managed the disease before and possessed the institutions needed to contain it again.
“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.
“We must be vigilant, but not panic. People should respect public health information from trusted sources and not spread misinformation and false rumours,” he added.
The minister promised regular updates and said he would soon receive a report on the case.
FG intensifies Ebola enlightenment
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has directed agencies under his ministry to intensify public enlightenment on Ebola Virus Disease following the confirmation of a case in the FCT.
Idris gave the directive to the National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria and News Agency of Nigeria to educate Nigerians about the disease and measures to prevent its spread.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said accurate 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.
