The Osun State Government has resolved to expand public sensitisation on Ebola Virus Disease as part of measures to prevent the disease from spreading into the state.
The decision was among the resolutions reached at a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Ebola Virus Disease, where the state’s preparedness and response measures were reviewed.
The report of the meeting, which brought together health stakeholders to discuss the state’s preparedness, was prepared by the Public Health Operations Centre in the Osun State Ministry of Health and obtained by PUNCH on Friday.
The meeting identified improved public awareness through multilingual radio and television broadcasts, as well as the availability of a designated emergency isolation facility, as urgent measures to strengthen the state’s preparedness.
It also called for stronger coordination at the local government level and the immediate commencement of training for healthcare responders.
The participants called for the preparation of the designated state emergency isolation centre, stating, “The state is to reclaim, prepare and open the designated facility within one week. Ebola Virus Disease preparedness coordination meetings are to be replicated across LGAs with the participation of Local Government Rapid Response Teams.
“The Ministry of Health is to initiate capacity-building activities, beginning with existing master trainers and arrange dedicated emergency ambulances.
“Health promotion teams are to expand educational jingles and broadcast materials in Hausa and other local languages, in addition to the planned Yoruba-language communication.”
The report also emphasised the need to establish holding bays in selected hospitals, replenish essential protective supplies, strengthen surveillance and rapid-response coordination, engage private healthcare practitioners and secure the necessary emergency funding.
“The agreed actions provide a framework for strengthening the state’s preparedness and response capacity. Their effectiveness will depend on timely executive approvals, adequate resources, clear assignment of responsibilities and regular monitoring by the State Steering Committee,” the report stated.
The move by the Osun State Government comes as the Federal Government has directed hospitals nationwide to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention measures as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, warning that 15 states are yet to update their response plans.
PUNCH reported that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the directive in Abuja during a press briefing on the government’s response to the outbreak. He said health facilities had been instructed to make adequate provisions for suspected cases and protect frontline health workers.
While briefing the National Economic Council, Pate also said 21 states had accelerated preparations and strengthened their capacity to respond to the possible spread of the disease. He urged the remaining 15 states to step up their preparations.
Pate said the government was coordinating the national response through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, with support from the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.