Ebola: Kaduna activates isolation centre

The Kaduna State Government has activated its infectious disease hospital and intensified surveillance across health facilities as part of measures to prevent and respond to a possible Ebola outbreak.

The Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, adding that the government had also strengthened community sensitisation and equipped selected hospitals with essential medical supplies.

Abubakar said the state had completed a readiness assessment for its Ebola Virus Disease response to identify gaps, improve coordination and strengthen its capacity to contain any possible outbreak.

“We have been doing a lot to ensure that we are ready. One of the things we have been intensifying is public sensitisation through various media, including radio and television programmes.

“We have also been engaging communities through our community engagement office. Our rapid response teams are active, and our public health emergency response structures are in place,” he said.

The public health director said the readiness assessment was aimed at evaluating the state’s preparedness and identifying areas requiring improvement.

“In fact, we have just completed a readiness assessment for the Ebola Virus Disease response in Kaduna State. The assessment was conducted to evaluate our preparedness, identify gaps and improve coordination so that we can respond effectively if the need arises,” he added.

He said the state had activated its infectious disease hospital in Mando, where isolation facilities had been prepared, while drugs, medical commodities and personal protective equipment had been provided.

According to him, the supplies had also been made available to some selected secondary healthcare facilities to enable the state to respond promptly to any suspected case.

On contact tracing, Abubakar said the index case had been moved out of the country, while identified contacts were being closely monitored by the relevant authorities.

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He, however, said there were no identified contacts in Kaduna State, adding that the government was strengthening preparedness at all levels of the healthcare system.

“The index case has actually been moved out of the country. The contacts are being closely monitored by the relevant authorities, but there are no contacts here in Kaduna.

“So, we are strengthening our facilities and prioritising our healthcare workers so that they maintain a high index of suspicion,” he said.

Abubakar explained that the initial symptoms of Ebola could resemble those of common illnesses such as malaria, particularly fever, and urged healthcare workers to remain vigilant when attending to patients.

He stressed the need for strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of gloves, proper handwashing and other hygiene practices.

“Healthcare workers must have a high index of suspicion and ensure they use the proper infection prevention and control protocols. They must use hand gloves, practise handwashing and maintain proper hygiene and safety standards,” he said.

The director said the government was also mobilising primary healthcare facilities because of their proximity to communities and their role as the first point of contact for many patients.

He added that surveillance and rapid response activities had been extended to local government areas, where surveillance officers and rapid response teams were working under the coordination of the state government.

Abubakar urged residents not to panic over reports of Ebola but to remain informed and cooperate with public health authorities.

He said the government would continue to strengthen its surveillance and response mechanisms to protect residents against any possible outbreak.