The Borno State Government has constituted a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to strengthen preparedness and ensure a swift response to any suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state.
The Director of Public Health at the Borno State Ministry of Health, Dr Goni Ali, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
Ali said the multidisciplinary team comprised trained public health professionals tasked with detecting, investigating and containing disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies across the state.
He added that the government had identified two isolation centres in two health facilities for managing suspected Ebola cases as part of its preparedness measures.
According to him, the team would strengthen disease surveillance, investigate suspected cases, trace contacts, facilitate safe sample collection and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
Ali said the government would also develop Information, Education and Communication materials for distribution to the public to raise awareness about Ebola prevention and encourage early reporting of suspected cases.
He explained that the team would coordinate activities among local government authorities, health facilities and relevant public health agencies to ensure effective outbreak management.
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The director said preparedness measures would include providing adequate personal protective equipment, ensuring the safe transportation of suspected cases, managing medical waste properly and protecting frontline health workers from possible infection.
He added that health workers in public and private facilities would be sensitised to recognise suspected cases, safely isolate patients and promptly notify the appropriate public health authorities.
Ali said surveillance would also be intensified along major travel routes, border crossings and other locations with high population movement to facilitate the early detection of possible imported cases.
Emphasising the importance of risk communication and community engagement, he urged residents to rely on verified information, avoid spreading rumours and refrain from stigmatising people suspected of having the disease.
He said the state would continue collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure operational readiness against potential Ebola outbreaks.
Ali stressed that early detection, immediate isolation, contact tracing and strict infection prevention measures remained critical to containing any potential outbreak and protecting public health in the state.
