Offices, banks, event centres reactivate response measures
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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Hand sanitisers have returned to the entrances of public facilities, hospitality establishments and hospitals in Abuja after the Federal Government confirmed an Ebola case, while shops selling the products have also seen increased patronage, even as a deepening trust deficit threatens to complicate efforts to secure public cooperation in containing the disease.
A visit to some public places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday showed renewed attention to hand hygiene, with some establishments making sanitisers available to visitors and customers amid growing public concern over the reported case.
At the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre and the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, where several events were held yesterday, hand sanitisers were made available at entrances, while some hospitality establishments and eateries, including Transcorp Hotel, Abuja Continental Hotel and several other locations, were among those visited as part of efforts to assess public response to the development.
Similarly, hospitals in the FCT have also reportedly reactivated handwashing and other hygiene practices as part of measures to minimise the risk of infection.
The renewed caution has extended to members of the public, some of whom said they were becoming more conscious of physical contact and interactions with others following the announcement.
The development has also translated into increased patronage for shops selling hand sanitisers, as some residents seek to obtain the products for personal use and reinforce hygiene practices at home, in offices and in public places.
The increased demand suggests that the Ebola announcement has influenced some people’s behaviour, even as uncertainty and scepticism persist over the government’s handling of the situation.
However, conversations with residents in the FCT and discussions on various social media platforms revealed considerable distrust of official information about the case, with some people questioning the timing and credibility of the announcement.
Some expressed suspicions that the development could be used to create opportunities for the diversion of public funds or to finance political activities, even though such claims remain unsubstantiated, but their circulation reflects the challenge authorities could face in persuading a sceptical public to accept official health advisories.
The suspicion, some residents suggested, was shaped by their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, when government spending, restrictions and public health decisions attracted widespread criticism and allegations of financial impropriety.
The situation raises concerns that misinformation and distrust could undermine public health messaging at a time when accurate information, early reporting of symptoms and cooperation with health officials are essential.
Efforts to obtain additional clarification from relevant health authorities during the field engagement were also difficult, highlighting the importance of timely and consistent communication from the agencies responsible for coordinating the response.
The uncertainty was further fuelled by comments from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, which said the patient had travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for business and transited through Uganda.
Ugandan authorities also said the country had no confirmed active Ebola cases and that the woman had not shown symptoms while there.
The statement prompted questions among some Nigerians about the Federal Government’s account that the patient arrived in the country on an international flight from Uganda.
However, the two accounts are not necessarily contradictory. Transiting through Uganda does not establish that the patient contracted the virus there, while the location where exposure occurred remains a matter for epidemiological investigation.
The Federal Government confirmed the case on October 20 after laboratory testing, identifying the patient as a woman who had recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda. “She is receiving care in an isolation facility, while health authorities began tracing people who might have had contact with her,” the government said.
The initial contact-tracing exercise identified 44 close contacts, according to information released by the health authorities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified the infection as Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently available.
WHO said supportive clinical care, early detection, isolation and contact tracing remain important elements of managing an outbreak.
Meanwhile, the case has also triggered questions about Nigeria’s preparedness and the use of public funds earmarked for epidemic response.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar challenged the Federal Government to account for the N10 billion approved in June for Ebola preparedness, demanding details of the disbursement, recipients, contracts and payments associated with the allocation.
The demand followed the Federal Government’s June 9 announcement of a taskforce and the immediate release of N10 billion to support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other preparedness measures.
Atiku’s call has added a financial accountability dimension to the public debate, even though the demand for an account of the funds does not, in itself, establish that the money has been misappropriated.
Ebola is a severe and potentially fatal disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated materials. It does not ordinarily spread through casual proximity alone. Health authorities advise people to practise hand hygiene, avoid contact with suspected cases and promptly report symptoms or possible exposure to health workers.
While the renewed use and purchase of sanitisers, handwashing and other precautions indicate that some residents and institutions are responding to the announcement, public health experts generally stress that such measures must be accompanied by accurate information and coordinated surveillance.
The health experts said the challenge is therefore not limited to tracing contacts and containing the infection, but the Federal Government must also provide clear, regular updates, explain the basis of its decisions and demonstrate accountability for the resources committed to preparedness.
They insisted that without credible communication, rumours may flourish and discourage people from reporting possible exposure or following official guidance, hence building public confidence through transparency and consistent information will be crucial to ensuring that Nigeria’s Ebola response receives the cooperation it needs.
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