The Kwara State Government has stepped up efforts to improve the detection and reporting of Ebola and diphtheria cases, with a focus on equipping health workers to identify symptoms early and respond promptly to suspected infections.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Press Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Saad Hamdalat, following a one-day sensitisation training organised by the ministry on disease surveillance and reporting.
The Director of Public Health in the ministry, Oluwatosin Fakayode, represented by the State Epidemiologist, Khadeejah Kamaldeen, stressed the importance of effective surveillance in preventing disease outbreaks.
He said the training was aimed at strengthening participants’ capacity to recognise warning signs, report suspected cases promptly and take appropriate action in line with established surveillance guidelines.
“The initiative emphasises the ministry’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance, improving public health preparedness and protecting the health of residents across Kwara State,” Fakayode said.
He identified understanding the epidemiology, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms of Ebola and diphtheria as key objectives of the training.
The director also emphasised the need for health workers to apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures and adhere to established procedures for specimen collection, packaging and transportation.
He added that the training would help participants identify gaps in disease surveillance and develop practical solutions to address them.
Speaking on diphtheria transmission, a Consultant Public Physician with the World Health Organisation, Maryam Jimoh, explained that humans were the only natural hosts of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while carriers could serve as reservoirs of infection.
“Transmission occurs directly from person to person through respiratory droplets and indirectly through contact with infected lesions or contaminated clothing and other objects,” she stated.
She noted that infectiousness could persist for two weeks or less, although it might occasionally last longer, highlighting the importance of early detection, appropriate treatment and effective infection prevention and control measures.
In a presentation on Ebola surveillance, the Senior Liaison Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Gloria Ogunkunle, outlined symptoms that should raise suspicion of Ebola virus disease.
Ogunkunle said, “A sudden onset of fever accompanied by at least three other symptoms should raise suspicion of Ebola virus disease.”
She listed the symptoms to include headache, lethargy, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing, diarrhoea and hiccups.
The training brought together health workers and relevant stakeholders to strengthen their knowledge of disease surveillance, improve reporting practices and enhance preparedness for potential outbreaks.