Following reported cases of resurgence of Ebola and other communicable diseases like Cholera, Mpox, meningitis, measles, and COVID-19, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has tightened its disease surveillance system in order to minimize its impact.
To this end, the Epidemiological Division of the Public Health Department, under the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), has placed its personnel on red alert.
Dr. Sadiq Abdulrahaman, Director of the FCT Public Health Department, revealed this while briefing the media in Abuja on the readiness and response of the FCTA health sector.
According to Dr. Sadiq, the FCT is on a high alert mode, though it is yet to witnessed any serious outbreak of the diseases within the year ending.
He said there is a periodic or weekly review, which is done in conjunction with FCTA partners like WHO, NCDC and Disease Surveillance and Notification officers, who are key foot soldiers at the Area Councils level.
“For Ebola viral disease, which is a big global disease of public health concern, though it is not yet witnessed in Nigeria except for the last case in 2014, but we are aware that there is already an outbreak in DRC Congo, with so much consequences from quite a number of deaths, and closure of schools. So, here (FCT) we have executed a high alert mode even though we have not witnessed any case yet.
“So, proactive measures have been taken. Our surveillance system is heightened, and the FCT Administration bought quite a number commodities particularly for these key diseases like Cholera that we witnessed in 2021. We went on advocacy visits to key stakeholders especially in those Area Councils that had high potent of the disease during the outbreak such as AMAC, Kuje and Bwari,” Dr Sadiq stated.
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