Ebola: Yobe Govt Activates Emergency Response Centres, Border Surveillance

The Yobe State government said it has not yet recorded any Ebola virus but has activated its Public Health Emergency Incident Management System and developed a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response plan to monitor the possible outbreak of the disease.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hadiza Sabo, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Damaturu on Monday.

According to her, the state government is building 6 technical pillars recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for the Ebola Virus Disease response, which are coordinated through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

“Yobe State shares an international border; consequently, the state is strengthening cross-border surveillance and coordination with transport and relevant border authorities at key entry points to enhance vigilance, facilitate the timely detection and reporting of public health threats, and support prompt response to potential disease outbreaks”

“We have outlined six pillars of coordination and management: epidemiology and surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory services, communication and community engagement, as well as point of entry,” she said.

Sabo further added that the government is intensifying public awareness campaigns using radio, television, community town carriers and engagement with traditional leaders.

“Our message is simple; Ebola is real, but it is preventable and controllable. We are advising citizens to maintain good hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of anyone showing symptoms, and report any unusual illness or death to the nearest health facility immediately”.

The government advises the general public to shun any rumours or misinformation and rely on verified information from the State Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other official sources, and not to spread unverified reports on social media, as doing that can cause unnecessary panic and harm.