The Federal Government has directed health facilities across the country to strengthen their isolation centres and ensure the availability of protective equipment and medical supplies as part of measures to prevent and manage any possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.
The Deputy Head of Clinical Services at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Dr Yunus Mohammed Eze, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.
He said the directive, issued through the Federal Ministry of Health, required hospitals to put emergency response measures in place to ensure early detection, isolation and management of suspected Ebola cases.
According to him, FMC Birnin Kudu has complied with the directive by strengthening its isolation unit and placing healthcare workers on alert.
”The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, communicated with health facilities across the country and directed them to prepare their isolation units and ensure that everything required to protect healthcare workers and manage affected patients was available,” he said.
”We received the directive, and the management immediately swung into action. Our isolation unit was strengthened, and we are prepared to isolate any suspected case and make referrals where necessary.”
He explained that the hospital had also made arrangements to refer suspected or confirmed cases to designated treatment centres whenever necessary.
Speaking on public awareness, Eze said the hospital had intensified health education through its Infectious Diseases Unit and Community Medicine Unit to sensitise residents on infectious diseases and preventive measures.
He added that the hospital was collaborating with the Jigawa State Media Corporation to educate members of the public on disease prevention and the importance of early reporting of suspected cases.
The medical expert further explained that healthcare professionals regularly educate patients and visitors to the hospital, encouraging them to share the information with their families and communities.