Ebola: Kaduna State government intensifies surveillance across health facilities

An infectious disease hospital has been activated by the Kaduna State Government, while surveillance has intensified 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, explained that the government had also strengthened community sensitisation and equipped selected hospitals with essential medical supplies.

According to Abubakar, 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, saying they have been intensifying public sensitisation through various media, including radio and television programmes.

Abubakar further explained, “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.”

The Director stated that the readiness assessment was aimed at evaluating the state’s preparedness and identifying areas requiring improvement, stressing that the state government has just completed a readiness assessment for the Ebola Virus Disease response in Kaduna State.

He said the assessment was conducted to evaluate preparedness, identify gaps and improve coordination so that the state can respond effectively if the need arises.

“The state has activated its infectious disease hospital in Mando, where isolation facilities have been prepared, while drugs, medical commodities and personal protective equipment have been provided. Supplies have 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, explaining that there were no identified contacts in Kaduna State, as the government was strengthening preparedness at all levels of the healthcare system.