The Federal Government is strengthening preparedness for a possible spread of Ebola by identifying and equipping treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry, as the number of identified contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case rises to 53.
An Ebola situation report obtained on Sunday indicated that authorities were assessing the readiness of healthcare facilities, strengthening surveillance at ports of entry and establishing referral mechanisms for suspected cases.
The report stated that the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital had completed a needs assessment and optimisation exercise to prepare it for isolation and treatment, while an infection prevention and control assessment was planned for Karu General Hospital in Abuja to determine its capacity to handle a possible increase in isolation needs.
Under the next steps for case management, the report listed the identification and optimisation of treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry, alongside arrangements for transferring suspected cases from detection points to treatment facilities.
The national incident management system has also been activated under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, with an Incident Action Plan finalised to guide the response.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has approved an emergency stipend of ₦100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine following possible exposure to the virus.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the financial support was introduced after some contacts complained about the cost of maintaining their families while complying with public health monitoring arrangements.
He explained that the agency was already providing accommodation and feeding for people in designated isolation facilities, but additional support became necessary to ease their financial burden.
Dr Idris described the payment as an emergency measure that was not included in the original response plan, adding that it would be reviewed as the situation develops.
The Federal Government is continuing contact tracing, surveillance and infection prevention measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
