The Ondo State Government said it has intensified measures to prevent the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state by deploying four ambulances for emergency transportation of any possible suspected cases and placing health personnel on alert.
The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health Prof. Simidele Odimayo revealed this on Saturday in an interview in Akure the state capital.
Odimayo also said the state had begun to train health workers strengthening disease surveillance and intensifying public awareness campaigns to ensure prompt detection and reporting of suspected cases.
He explained that the measures were part of the state’s proactive response in line with national guidelines stressing that no Ebola case had been recorded in Ondo.
Odimayo said the government had constituted a committee to coordinate preparedness efforts and sent some team members to Abuja for specialised training to strengthen the state’s response capacity.
‘The state is doing a lot. We have already set up a committee that is working. We have sent some of our team to Abuja for some training programmes.
‘We have just procured so many ambulances in recent times about 15 of them. So all we need to do at this time is to dedicate some about four in line with the national guidelines for movement of cases in case we have cases’ he said.
According to him the health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to remain vigilant recognise Ebola symptoms and report suspected cases promptly through established channels.
He said the government was also making arrangements for isolation personal protective equipment and other emergency logistics to protect health workers and limit the risk of transmission.
Odimayo disclosed that community mobilisers had been directed to sensitise residents while radio jingles educational materials and media engagements were being used to promote awareness and discourage panic.
‘We have our agents our community mobilisers. We have informed them to inform the people at the grassroots level. We have also produced jingles and written materials that people will be able to utilise’ he said.
He advised the residents to remain calm maintain good personal hygiene wash their hands regularly and avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
Odimayo advised residents to avoid touching their eyes nose and mouth with unwashed hands and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.
He also assured residents that the government was strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent the disease from gaining a foothold in the state. The governor’s aide further disclosed that health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to strengthen vigilance familiarise personnel with the symptoms of Ebola and adhere strictly to established reporting procedures.
He said the government was working to ensure that suspected cases were identified and referred through appropriate channels without unnecessary delays.
According to him the state’s surveillance and reporting mechanisms are being aligned with national protocols to facilitate a coordinated response involving health facilities and relevant emergency agencies.
He added that the government had made arrangements for the isolation of suspected cases to support appropriate medical assessment and reduce the risk of possible transmission.
The health adviser further said personal protective equipment (PPE) had been provided through the state’s designated emergency management agency while logistical arrangements were being reviewed to ensure that necessary materials could reach health facilities and health posts when required.
He however emphasised that protecting healthcare workers was an essential component of the preparedness strategy noting that personnel must have the appropriate equipment and knowledge to handle suspected cases safely.