The federal government says it has tightened health screening and surveillance at Nigeria’s points of entry in collaboration with port health services amid rising cases of Ebola in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who announced this measure on Wednesday, reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, adding that all necessary precautionary measures have been activated to strengthen national preparedness and response systems.
The minister stated that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, and other relevant agencies, is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and regional health authorities. According to the Minister, Nigeria remains vigilant and has activated enhanced preparedness measures to safeguard public health and strengthen the country’s capacity for early detection and rapid response.
Read also: Ebola cases in Congo decreasing, but high attention needed, WHO warns
“While Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease, the Federal Government is taking all necessary proactive measures to strengthen national preparedness, surveillance, and coordination mechanisms to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians,” the Minister stated.
He noted that ongoing response and preparedness measures include: Enhanced surveillance and monitoring nationwide; Strengthened screening and health declaration protocols at points of entry; Increased coordination with state ministries of health and relevant stakeholders.
Read also: WHO expresses concern over scale of Ebola outbreak
Others are: Strengthened laboratory preparedness and diagnostic capacity; Reinforcement of infection prevention and control measures across health facilities; Intensified public awareness, risk communication, and community engagement activities.
The Minister urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation, and continue observing preventive measures, including regular hand hygiene and avoiding contact with bodily fluids of persons showing symptoms of illness. He further advised the public to promptly report any unusual illness to the nearest health facility.
He also advised healthcare workers across the country to maintain a high index of suspicion, adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols, promptly isolate suspected cases, and report through established public health channels.
Read also: What to know about fast-spreading Ebola virus strain in Congo
Pate reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting public health and maintaining national health security through coordinated preparedness and rapid response efforts.
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