Public health physicians have urged the Federal Government to urgently strengthen Ebola surveillance at airports and other entry points, provide protective equipment for health workers and release emergency funds to prevent further spread of the disease.
The doctors also called for improved contact tracing, prompt identification and isolation of suspected cases, and intensified public awareness on Ebola transmission and prevention.
Their recommendations follow the Federal Government’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring as part of efforts to contain the infection.
The affected woman is currently receiving treatment in isolation, while the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating response efforts.
A Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin and Consultant Public Health Physician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Tanimola Akande, said surveillance must be strengthened across the country, particularly at airports.
Akande stressed that identified contacts should be managed appropriately, including quarantine and isolation where necessary, while health education should be intensified to minimise the risk of transmission.
He also urged health facilities to ensure that healthcare workers have access to and properly use personal protective equipment, adding that medical personnel must remain alert to symptoms that could indicate Ebola.
The physician explained that the virus can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of infected people or those who have died from the disease. He advised Nigerians to avoid contact with suspected cases and ensure that safe burial practices are observed.
Akande further cautioned against handling bush meat without appropriate precautions and advised that meat be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Similarly, a Public Health Physician and Director of Medical Services at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Rotimi Adesanya, called for increased surveillance at all ports of entry and along Nigeria’s borders.
Adesanya recommended deploying trained health personnel to entry points and other strategic locations, alongside providing thermometers for temperature screening and adequate protective equipment for frontline workers.
He emphasised that emergency funding was necessary to enable relevant agencies to implement these measures without delay.
The physician also urged Nigerians to reinforce preventive practices adopted during previous disease outbreaks, including regular handwashing and appropriate infection-prevention measures.
He called for intensified public education and refresher training for health workers on identifying, screening and managing suspected Ebola cases.
Adesanya added that all identified contacts of the confirmed patient must be closely monitored throughout the incubation period, with appropriate isolation measures where indicated, to reduce the risk of further transmission.
