Ebola: Kwara sensitises health facilities to identify, report suspected cases

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Following the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Amina Ahmed El-Imam, says the government is strengthening disease surveillance and preparing health facilities to respond to any suspected case.

El-Imam said hospitals and other health facilities across the state had been sensitised to identify and promptly report suspected cases of the disease.

She added that disease surveillance and notification officers had been reminded to watch out for symptoms associated with Ebola and ensure that any suspected case was reported through the appropriate channels.

“We have sensitised hospitals and all our health facilities so that they are on the lookout for it,” the commissioner said.

As part of the preparedness measures, she disclosed that the state had convened its first emergency operations meeting on Ebola to coordinate the response and bring relevant stakeholders together.

“We have held an emergency operations meeting today, the maiden one for Ebola, which is a multi-stakeholder committee that includes the environment and all the relevant agencies,” she said.

The commissioner also said the state was working to procure essential supplies needed to support screening and treatment if the disease were detected in Kwara.

She said the government had raised its level of preparedness and was maintaining vigilance while hoping that no case would be recorded in the state.