The Federal Government has directed hospitals across the country to reactivate isolation centres and ensure the availability of protective equipment as part of a stepped-up effort to prevent and manage a potential Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.
The directive is part of proactive measures to strengthen preparedness and prevent a potential outbreak in the country.
The Deputy Head of Clinical Services at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, in Jigawa State, Dr. Yunus Eze, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Friday.
He said the directive requires hospitals to establish emergency-response measures for the early detection, isolation and management of suspected Ebola cases.
The government’s broader preparedness guidance, he said, emphasises early detection, immediate isolation, infection prevention, safe referrals and the protection of health workers.
Speaking on preparedness, Eze said FMC Birnin Kudu had already acted on the federal instruction by strengthening its isolation unit and placing medical staff on alert.
He said the hospital is prepared to isolate suspected patients and refer confirmed or high-risk cases to designated treatment centres when necessary.
“We received the directive, and the management immediately swung into action,” Eze said.
“Our isolation unit was strengthened, and we are prepared to isolate any suspected case and make referrals where necessary,” he added.
The government has similarly directed hospitals across the country to prepare isolation capacity, ensure adequate supplies and train frontline workers in infection-prevention protocols.
Beyond hospital preparations, FMC Birnin Kudu has intensified public-health education through its Infectious Diseases and Community Medicine units.
The hospital is also working with the Jigawa State Media Corporation to inform residents about infectious-disease risks and the importance of promptly reporting suspected cases.
Eze, speaking on public awareness, said health professionals at the facility are educating patients and visitors and encouraging them to share preventive information with their families and communities.
Similarly, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged states to maintain functional isolation or holding facilities, strengthen screening and triage, and ensure that emergency preparations do not disrupt routine care.
He said the government has also urged public and private hospitals to report suspected cases promptly, warning that health workers face heightened exposure risks during outbreaks.
