Nigeria has the capability to comprise the Ebola outbreak, however specialists have referred to as for higher communication, stronger illness surveillance and improved coordination to forestall additional unfold.
Speaking throughout an interview with Arise News on Thursday, Dr Olayinka Ilesanmi, an epidemiologist and former West Africa Regional Programme Lead for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, mentioned Nigeria had educated personnel and the expertise wanted to handle the outbreak. Professor Adamu Akyala, a Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, raised issues about gaps within the nation’s surveillance system, notably in non-public hospitals and call tracing.
Nigeria Has The Capacity To Curb Ebola
Ilesanmi mentioned Nigeria was doing nicely in its response however wanted to deal with inconsistencies in info coming from officers and associate organisations.
He mentioned conflicting accounts of the index case’s journey historical past may undermine public confidence, stressing the necessity to confirm info earlier than sharing it with the general public.
“The communication has to be centralized,” he mentioned, including that info from the Africa CDC, well being authorities and different companions wanted to be aligned.
Ilesanmi mentioned Nigeria had educated subject epidemiologists and different personnel whose expertise from earlier outbreaks may assist the present response.
He additionally referred to as for stronger collaboration between Nigeria, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and different related events to ascertain the index case’s journey historical past and determine extra contacts.
“There is a need for cross-border collaboration,” he mentioned, including that airways and illness management authorities ought to work collectively to ascertain the passenger’s actions and potential exposures.
Akyala Faults Surveillance Gaps
Akyala mentioned the index case’s actions via a global airport and a number of healthcare amenities highlighted weaknesses in Nigeria’s illness surveillance system.
He mentioned the lady had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda earlier than flying to Abuja, the place she encountered individuals on the airport and later visited a number of medical amenities earlier than her prognosis was confirmed.
According to Akyala, the case uncovered gaps within the identification and monitoring of people that may need come into contact with the affected person.
“Our surveillance system is not active,” he mentioned, arguing {that a} stronger system ought to have recognized extra contacts linked to the worldwide flight and the healthcare amenities the affected person visited.
Akyala additionally questioned the emphasis on public hospitals in current surveillance practices, saying non-public healthcare amenities wanted to be extra successfully integrated.
“It is on record that most of our surveillance system tools tend to focus more on public hospitals than on private hospitals,” he mentioned.
He referred to as for a shift in the direction of surveillance methods that cowl each non-public and public hospitals, noting that the index instances related to Ebola in 2014, COVID-19 and the present Ebola outbreak had concerned non-public healthcare amenities.
Experts Call For Vaccine Investment And Public Awareness
Akyala mentioned Nigeria wanted to spend money on vaccine analysis and growth, notably for ailments that have an effect on the nation and different components of Africa.
He recalled that Nigeria beforehand produced yellow fever vaccines however had not recovered that capability, calling for a presidential initiative to assist vaccine growth and encourage Nigerian scientists working overseas to return.
He additionally argued that Ebola shouldn’t be handled as solely an African downside as a result of worldwide journey may facilitate its unfold past the continent.
On whether or not the federal government ought to ban public gatherings, Akyala mentioned such a measure was not mandatory in the mean time.
“No need to place a ban for now,” he mentioned, advocating elevated public consciousness and more practical communication as a substitute.
Ilesanmi equally cautioned towards extreme reactions, urging Nigerians to hunt medical consideration when individuals round them develop signs that would point out Ebola.
He mentioned signs equivalent to fever, extreme headache, physique weak spot, vomiting and diarrhoea shouldn’t be managed at residence when Ebola is a priority.
He additionally urged spiritual leaders to direct sick individuals to hospitals for evaluation slightly than relying solely on prayer or residence care.
Ilesanmi confused that common handwashing with cleaning soap and water and correct hygiene remained necessary measures for lowering the danger of an infection.
Both specialists emphasised the significance of coordinated communication, efficient surveillance and public consciousness as Nigeria works to comprise the outbreak and determine individuals who might have been uncovered to the virus.
Ademide Adebayo
Follow us on:
