The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to guard against possible outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease, diphtheria and other infectious diseases across the state.
The government said surveillance and emergency response measures had been strengthened in all 16 Local Government Areas to ensure suspected cases are identified and contained quickly.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, disclosed this on Saturday in Ado Ekiti through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, at a sensitisation programme organised for stakeholders on Ebola and diphtheria.
Community and religious leaders, market representatives, transport unions, artisans and media practitioners participated in the programme.
Filani said the state would continue to adopt preventive measures to protect residents and improve its response to infectious diseases.
The state Epidemiologist, Dr Bosede Alowooye, said the World Health Organisation had declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, making increased preparedness necessary.
“All countries need to be on alert. When we are in a state of alert, we need to carry out some activities; this sensitisation is part of it,” she said.
She explained that the programme was designed to equip key groups with information needed to recognise symptoms, prevent transmission and promptly alert health authorities about suspected cases.
“We are sensitising different stakeholders, telling them about the current update on Ebola and diphtheria, and also the preventive measures to take in the state,” she said.
Alowooye disclosed that the state’s public health emergency operation centre had been activated and was already working on disease preparedness, including training healthcare workers and community-based informants.
She added that airport workers had received training to identify passengers who develop sudden fever, with thermometers, sanitisers and information materials supplied to them.
According to her, doctors, nurses and other members of the case management team had also undergone training on handling Ebola cases, while protective equipment and sample collection materials had been provided.
“So, Ekiti is perfectly prepared for not only Ebola, but diphtheria, Lassa fever, or any other disease,” she noted.
The epidemiologist listed muscle pain, headache, stomach ache, vomiting, sudden high fever, difficulty in breathing and skin rash as symptoms associated with Ebola.
She advised residents to maintain good hand and personal hygiene and report suspected cases to health officials immediately.
Residents returning from countries where outbreaks have been reported, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, were also urged to notify health authorities and seek medical attention when necessary.
The General Manager of the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme and Pillar Lead for Ebola Risk Communication, Dr Charles Doherty, said the campaign was also intended to correct misconceptions about the diseases while educating residents on how to prevent them.
He urged residents to remain cautious and report persistent fever when treatment fails to produce results after two or three days.
“Any fever treated for two or three days, and there’s no result, should be reported. We also advise our people to always identify and inform the relevant government agencies as soon as possible when they discover any new thing among them.
“Also, they have to be very careful about travellers, especially international travellers who have one thing or the other to do with Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo. And they should always cooperate with health workers whenever they are called or whenever they seek information from them,” Doherty said.
On diphtheria, the Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Ekiti State Chapter, Mr Atah Adegboyega, said although the disease could be fatal, it was preventable.
He advised parents and caregivers to ensure children receive routine immunisation and other recommended vaccines as part of efforts to protect them against diphtheria.