The Nigerian authorities has mentioned there may be presently no want to limit large gatherings following the affirmation of an imported Ebola case within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, mentioned this on Thursday throughout a ministerial press briefing in Abuja, including that any resolution to introduce restrictions can be primarily based on public well being proof and knowledgeable recommendation.
“At this moment there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned,” Mr Pate mentioned.
“But if the situation changes, we would decide; we would consult broadly with the right experts and make that determination.”
He urged Nigerians to stay calm, saying the federal government’s response can be guided by proof slightly than political concerns.
“So Nigerians should be assured that whatever the public health community will come out with will be based on good evidence. At this moment we have not indicated that,” he mentioned.
Patient recovering
Mr Pate additionally mentioned the girl on the centre of Nigeria’s first confirmed case is recovering and that laboratory outcomes had been exhibiting enchancment.
He mentioned he had spoken with the clinicians treating her and there’s a chance that she would get better from the illness.
“We cannot hold our breath. We have to continue to pray and work hard to ensure that she survives it,” he mentioned.
The minister reiterated that the case was imported primarily based on the affected person’s journey historical past and that she was asymptomatic when she arrived in Nigeria.
According to him, she developed signs a number of days after arrival, after which she sought medical consideration.
The authorities has traced individuals who had contact along with her within the hospital, at dwelling and at a personal clinic she visited. The contacts have been categorised by danger stage.
Mr Pate mentioned high-risk contacts had been quarantined in a facility, whereas others had been remoted and had been being monitored according to public well being pointers.
Response expanded
The minister mentioned the federal government had activated its incident administration system, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) main the operational response in coordination with the FCT authorities.
He mentioned all state governments had been knowledgeable and that the majority states already had response plans developed with steerage from the NCDC.
He mentioned states which have but to finish their plans have been directed to take action shortly.
The authorities has additionally mobilised further assets for the response, together with funding from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCF) and extra assets launched to the NCDC by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Pate mentioned the federal government was additionally working with growth and technical companions, together with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
He mentioned specialists who had supported Ebola responses in different nations, together with Kenya, have additionally arrived in Nigeria to strengthen the response.
Mr Pate mentioned Christian Happi, a virologist and director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemer’s University, has been introduced into the response to enrich the work of the NCDC.
“This is to let Nigerians know that the capabilities are in the country, and the investments that have been made to get us here are bearing fruit,” he mentioned.
‘Do not politicise Ebola’
The minister additionally criticised makes an attempt to politicise the Ebola response, urging political leaders and the media to deal with the state of affairs as a public well being problem.
“We certainly would encourage them not to politicise a humanitarian and public health issue,” he mentioned.
Mr Pate mentioned any selections on restrictions or different measures can be primarily based solely on scientific proof and what was thought-about in the perfect pursuits of Nigerians.
He additionally warned in opposition to misinformation in regards to the confirmed case, saying the affected person had examined optimistic for Ebola thrice.
He mentioned the federal government couldn’t launch the affected person’s check outcomes publicly due to medical confidentiality.
The minister urged Nigerians to rely on data from trusted public well being authorities and warned that misinformation may undermine efforts to comprise the illness.
“The alternative to trusting the expert is a tragedy,” he mentioned.
Border surveillance strengthened
Mr Pate mentioned Nigeria had maintained enhanced surveillance at factors of entry for the previous 5 months following the worsening Ebola state of affairs within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
He mentioned greater than 14,000 travellers had entered Nigeria in the course of the interval and that the federal government was strengthening port well being capability, together with thermal imaging and risk-based evaluation of travellers from affected nations.
He mentioned the federal government would proceed to observe the state of affairs and alter its suggestions if the proof modifications.
For now, he urged Nigerians to look at primary preventive measures, together with common hand washing, avoiding pointless contact with bodily fluids, and promptly reporting signs similar to fever, headache, and muscle aches, significantly if they’ve related journey historical past.
He additionally urged individuals recognized by means of contact tracing to adjust to isolation and quarantine measures.
“We are assuring Nigerians that we can be able to deal with it, but to do that we need the cooperation of Nigerians to follow expert advice,” Mr Pate mentioned.
Discover extra from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your electronic mail.
