The Federal Government has urged 15 states to speed up preparations for a possible spread of Ebola after discovering that they have yet to update their response plans.
The government has also directed hospitals across the country to provide isolation beds, strengthen infection prevention measures and prepare health workers to handle suspected cases safely.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the directive while briefing journalists in Abuja on the country’s response to the outbreak. He said 21 states had updated their Ebola response plans, while the remaining 15 needed to complete theirs urgently.
Pate said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, was coordinating the national response with support from the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC.
The directive follows the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, raising concerns about the country’s readiness to manage further infections. The minister said the government was working to prevent the virus from spreading beyond the confirmed case and developing into community transmission.
He explained that the response included tracing and monitoring people who had contact with the infected woman, strengthening disease surveillance and preparing hospitals to identify and manage any additional suspected cases.
Pate also stressed the need to protect health workers through strict compliance with infection prevention and control measures. According to him, the government had activated its incident management system, with the NCDC working alongside FCT authorities and other relevant agencies.
He said most states had developed their response plans with guidance from the NCDC, but some had yet to complete the process.
“Most of the states have already response plans, which were developed with the guidance of the NCDC. Those that have not finished their response plans, we’ve asked them to quickly finish their response plans,” he said. The minister said the government would meet state commissioners of health on Friday and involve commissioners of information to improve coordination and public communication.
He also called on private hospitals to report suspected Ebola cases immediately, noting that the infected woman had visited a private healthcare facility before her infection was confirmed.
“The private sector is important because, as you saw, this case went to a private facility. In 2014, it was a private facility,” Pate said.
He urged private medical practitioners to remain alert to possible symptoms, especially among patients with relevant travel histories, and to contact public health authorities instead of handling suspected cases without reporting them.
The minister disclosed that additional funding had been made available to the NCDC to support the response, while international health organisations were providing assistance. The government had also invited genomics expert Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University, Ede, to support investigations into the virus.
He advised Nigerians experiencing symptoms such as fever, headaches and muscle aches, particularly those who may have been exposed to the virus or travelled to affected areas, to isolate themselves and contact public health authorities promptly. The minister assured that Nigeria had the institutions and expertise required to contain the outbreak.
