By joshua No cause for panic over Ebola in Ebonyi State – Health Commissioner
By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Government has reassured residents that there is no cause for panic over the Ebola disease situation in Nigeria, saying it has intensified disease surveillance, equipped healthcare facilities with personal protective equipment and prepared an isolation centre to manage any suspected case.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abakaliki during a press briefing tagged “Ebola Disease Response in Nigeria: A Call for Calm, Vigilance and Strict Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Measures”.
Ekuma said no case of Ebola disease had been reported in the state, stressing that the government has strengthening its emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to prevent the introduction and possible spread of the infection.
He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and adequately informed, warning against the circulation of unverified information capable of generating unnecessary fear and undermining public health interventions.
“The confirmation of a case in another part of the country does not automatically mean that the disease has spread to Ebonyi State. We must, therefore, avoid unnecessary fear, rumours, stigmatization and the spread of unverified information,” the commissioner said.
He explained that the state government was working in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), relevant government agencies, healthcare institutions, development partners and community leaders to strengthen surveillance, early detection and emergency response.
According to him, the Ministry of Health has distributed personal protective equipment to health facilities across the state and provided orientation for healthcare workers on the recognition and appropriate management of suspected Ebola cases.
“We have distributed personal protective equipment to our health facilities. The healthcare workers have also been given orientation on this condition.
“We have also prepared an isolation centre in case we have any suspected cases. A lot has been done in preparation,” he said.
The commissioner described the measures as part of the state’s precautionary response, noting that the government was determined to ensure that the necessary facilities and personnel were in place before any potential emergency arose.
He said the ministry would intensify public enlightenment through radio and television broadcasts, community engagements and other communication channels to educate residents on preventive measures and discourage reliance on rumours.
Ekuma called on public and private healthcare facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, strengthen infection prevention and control practices, and promptly report suspected cases to the appropriate public health authorities.
He emphasised that healthcare workers must strictly observe standard precautions, including hand hygiene, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, safe patient triage, environmental cleanliness and proper medical waste management.
“Wearing personal protective equipment at this time is not optional. It is a must for healthcare workers,” he said, adding that suspected cases should be managed and referred in accordance with approved public health protocols.
The commissioner advised residents to practise regular hand washing with soap and running water, avoid direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of suspected or confirmed Ebola patients, and refrain from touching the bodies of people who die from suspected or confirmed Ebola disease.
He warned against attempting to treat suspected cases at home, urging anyone who developed symptoms consistent with Ebola following possible exposure to contact health authorities and comply with their instructions.
The commissioner, however, clarified that symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea could occur in several illnesses and did not, in themselves, confirm Ebola infection.
He advised people identified as contacts of suspected or confirmed cases to provide accurate information and comply with prescribed monitoring and follow-up, noting that being identified as a contact did not mean that the person had contracted the disease.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state’s emergency ambulance services were functional, urging residents to call 112 for assistance during medical emergencies, including pregnancy-related complications, emergencies involving children under five, snake bites and other urgent medical conditions.
He attributed the government’s preparedness efforts to Governor Francis Nwifuru’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents, saying the administration had provided the resources requested by the ministry to support its response.
Ekuma called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, transport operators, school administrators, civil society organisations and community-based groups to support public health education and encourage compliance with preventive measures.
He also urged journalists to rely on verified information from authorised public health agencies and avoid sensational reporting, warning that misinformation and stigmatization could undermine efforts to contain the disease.
“The current Ebola situation in Nigeria calls for serious vigilance and preparedness, but not panic.
“Our message is simple: do not panic, do not spread rumours, do not discriminate and do not ignore public health advice. Stay informed, practise good hygiene and cooperate with health authorities,” he said.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening surveillance, preparedness, inter-agency coordination and public awareness in line with national public health guidelines.