DRC Ebola Outbreak: Lagos Activates Response System, Tightens Screening At Airport

Lagos State authorities connected Wednesday activated the Incident Management Structure (IMS) of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) arsenic portion of measures to fortify prevention and preparedness against immoderate imaginable outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) successful the state.

The IMS activation followed an exigency gathering of the Lagos PHEOC held connected 9th September astatine the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, successful effect to the ongoing outbreak successful the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), wherever 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including 4 wellness workers, person been reported.

At the meeting, an epidemiology overview of the DRC outbreak was reviewed, portion leads presented a preparedness checklist spanning corruption prevention and power (IPC), surveillance, interaction tracing, lawsuit management, laboratory capacity, evacuation, hazard communication, fund and logistics.

Speaking aft the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, who was represented by the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health successful the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, said the activation of the IMS was a proactive step, fixed Lagos’ vulnerability arsenic a large gateway with 3 points of entry.

According to him, Lagos is “largely ready,” with an isolation centre that tin accommodate betwixt 14 and 18 beds each for suspected and confirmed cases.

He disclosed that surveillance, laboratory and IPC systems were functional, portion the archetypal batch of grooming for frontline wellness workers crossed each pillars volition commence immediately.

“We person completed our preparedness appraisal and are putting everything successful place. The isolation centre is ready, surveillance is superb, and laboratory capableness is intact. Training of officers successful surveillance, IPC, lawsuit management, laboratory and hazard connection starts tomorrow,” Ogboye stated.

He disclosed that the PHEOC had validated the Ebola information sheets and advisories which volition beryllium disseminated to each tiers of wellness workers crossed nationalist and backstage facilities successful Lagos. This, helium explained, would guarantee that doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and different cadres were connected alert.

Harping connected nationalist concerns, Ogboye urged residents not to panic, stressing that the authorities authorities has taken power measures. He nevertheless advised strict adherence to manus hygiene, biology sanitation, and aboriginal reporting of suspected cases, particularly among travellers returning from outbreak regions.

“The Ebola microorganism spreads done nonstop interaction with blood, assemblage fluids, oregon contaminated items of an infected person. Anyone with fever, sore pharynx oregon malaria-like symptoms who has precocious travelled to affected regions should beryllium reported instantly to 767 oregon 112,” helium emphasised.

He further revealed that further unit had been deployed to fortify the PHEOC workforce, with preparedness plans being developed into ceremonial memos for accelerated mobilisation of resources should a lawsuit hap successful Lagos.

Also speaking, Officer-in-Charge of Port Health Services astatine Murtala Muhammed International Airport and caput of the Point of Entry (PoE) team, Dr. Abdullahi Lawal, said robust surveillance and IPC measures were being enactment successful spot astatine the airports to forestall importation of the virus.

“Our halfway absorption astatine the constituent of introduction is surveillance, IPC, and advocacy. Though determination are nary nonstop flights from DRC to Nigeria, we are monitoring travellers from neighbouring countries similar Rwanda. High-risk passengers volition beryllium subjected to enhanced screening connected arrival,” Lawal explained.

He added that each airdrome stakeholders, including immigration, customs and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were being sensitised connected EVD symptoms and signs to alteration aboriginal detection.

He stressed that travelers were being advised to signifier manus hygiene and study immoderate chap passengers exhibiting suspicious symptoms.

Lawal commended the Lagos State authorities for its continuous collaboration with national agencies astatine the airport, assuring that the State remains supportive and responsive successful preventing Ebola’s re-entry into Nigeria.