Ekiti steps up surveillance against Ebola, diphtheria, sensitises residents on prevention

The Ekiti State Government says it is intensifying disease surveillance and rapid response mechanisms across its 16 Local Government Areas to prevent the outbreak of diseases, including Ebola Virus Disease and Diphtheria.

The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said that “surveillance and response systems in the state have been strengthened to ensure early detection, prompt reporting and effective containment of any suspected case.”

Filani, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Saturday, at a one-day sensitisation programme for stakeholders on Ebola and Diphtheria.

The stakeholders in attendance included community and religious leaders, market leaders, transporters’ representatives, artisans and the media.

The commissioner, who said that the government would continue to take proactive measures to prevent and control diseases in the state, lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his “commitment to improving healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.”

Ekiti State Epidemiologist, Dr Bosede Alowooye, who said that the World Health Organisation had declared Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, said, “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.”

Alowooye said the sensitisation programme was organised to strengthen prevention, early detection and prompt reporting of 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.

The epidemiologist, who said the state public health emergency operation centre had been activated, added that it had already carried out some activities, including the sensitisation of health workers, disease surveillance structure and community informants on the signs and symptoms, and how to report any cases.

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“We have also trained the Ekiti airport staff on how to detect passengers who might be coming down with sudden fever. We have given them thermometers and sanitisers, and other IEC materials and educational materials.

“We have trained our case management team – the doctors and nurses – who will take care of any Ebola disease patient in the state. We have trained our nurses on detection, prevention and control, and we also bought personal protective equipment like hand gloves, gowns, sanitisers, and other sample collection materials.

“So, Ekiti is perfectly prepared for not only Ebola, but diphtheria, Lassa fever, or any other disease,” she noted.

The epidemiologist listed symptoms of Ebola to include muscle pain, headache, stomach ache, vomiting, sudden high fever, difficulty in breathing and skin rash, as she advised residents to maintain proper hand hygiene, observe personal hygiene and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.

Alowooye also urged residents with a history of travel to countries with reported outbreaks, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, to promptly report to health authorities and seek medical attention where necessary.

The General Manager, Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme and Pillar Lead for Ebola Risk Communication, Dr Charles Doherty, said the state government was sensitising residents on the diseases, “to inform them about the causes and most especially the prevention because prevention is better than cure. We are also enlightening our people on the various misconceptions.”

He called on residents to take necessary precautions, saying, “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, described the disease as deadly, but preventable.

He said routine immunisation of children and uptake of other recommended vaccinations remain important measures for preventing the disease.