Newz— State reactivates emergency operations centre, places response teams on standby By Anayo Okoli ENUGU — The Enugu State Government says it has intensified disease surveillance across its 17 local government areas and reactivated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre following reports of an Ebola case in Nigeria. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ugwu, who disclosed this, said no case of Ebola Virus Disease had been confirmed in Enugu State.
“Let me begin by reassuring the people of Enugu State that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu State,” he said. Ugwu explained that the government had strengthened preparedness measures in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, airport authorities and other relevant partners. He said Enugu’s position as a major travel and commercial hub, particularly through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, made heightened surveillance and preparedness necessary.
According to him, the administration of Governor Peter Mbah considers public health security a priority and is taking precautionary measures without creating unnecessary panic. The commissioner said surveillance had been intensified across the 17 local government areas, while coordination with relevant agencies and monitoring around the international airport had also been strengthened. He added that the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre had been reactivated to coordinate preparedness and response, with rapid response teams and technical personnel placed on standby.
Ugwu urged public and private health facilities across the state to remain on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion for suspected cases, particularly among people with relevant travel or exposure histories. He advised healthcare providers to promptly isolate suspected cases and report them immediately to the appropriate Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) or the state emergency operations centre. The commissioner also urged health workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols, use appropriate personal protective equipment and report suspected infections through established channels.
He stressed that early detection and prompt notification were critical to preventing tran… — Place health workers, border teams on alert — Abia prepares isolation centres, seeks funds for protective gear — Enugu, Anambra intensify surveillance across LGAs By Anayo Okoli, Steve Oko, Vincent Ujumadu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Jeff Agbodo and Emmanuel Iheaka Governments across the South-East have stepped up measures to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease, following a reported case in Abuja, with Abia State preparing isolation facilities and seeking funds to procure protective equipment for health workers. Although no case of Ebola has been confirmed in any state in the zone, authorities said they were strengthening disease surveillance, alerting health workers and border teams, and improving emergency response capacity to contain any potential outbreak.
The measures include heightened monitoring of suspected cases, public health awareness campaigns, infection prevention and control, and preparations to isolate and manage suspected cases. Abia races to prepare isolation centres, seeks funds for protective gear Abia State Government said it had begun emergency preparedness measures against a possible Ebola outbreak, including plans to equip isolation facilities, procure personal protective equipment and intensify disease surveillance. The Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Blossom Uma-Kalu, who disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard, assured residents that no case of Ebola had been recorded in the state.
Summary from source