The Federal Government has stepped up disease surveillance and response measures following the detection of an Ebola case in Abuja, assuring Nigerians that the country has the capacity to contain the virus.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House.
Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said the early detection of the case demonstrated the effectiveness of surveillance and preparedness measures put in place by the government.
According to him, the infected passenger did not initially show symptoms after arriving in Abuja, with symptoms developing four days later.
He explained that the identification of the case was made possible by existing protocols and surveillance mechanisms, which enabled health authorities to respond promptly.
Gbajabiamila said the task force, inaugurated in June, had been working to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
He assured that areas requiring further improvement would be strengthened, while existing protocols would be subjected to more rigorous enforcement.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, said health authorities, private hospitals and relevant government agencies had activated surveillance and response systems across the country.
Pate listed Immigration, Aviation, Interior and sub-national health authorities among the stakeholders involved in the national response, adding that most states had adequate preparedness plans.
He said hospitals and other response capabilities had also been activated to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
The minister urged Nigerians to comply with public health directives and avoid spreading misinformation about the disease.
Pate recalled that Nigerian health professionals played a significant role in containing Ebola during the 2014 outbreak and also assisted other countries in responding to the virus.
He expressed confidence that the country’s existing expertise, surveillance systems and coordinated response would help prevent further spread of the disease.
The government, however, urged citizens to cooperate with health authorities and follow official guidance as efforts to contain the case continue.
