Ekiti strengthens disease surveillance amid Ebola and diphtheria concerns

The Ekiti State Government has intensified disease surveillance and rapid-response measures across its 16 local government areas to prepare for possible cases of Ebola, diphtheria and other diseases, the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said. Filani spoke through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, at a sensitisation programme in Ado Ekiti on Saturday. Community and religious leaders, market representatives, transporters, artisans and media organisations attended the event.

Filani said surveillance and response systems had been strengthened to support early detection, prompt reporting and containment of suspected cases. He also said the government would continue taking preventive measures to protect residents. Ekiti’s epidemiologist, Dr Bosede Alowooye, said the state public health emergency operation centre had been activated.

She said health workers, community informants and surveillance personnel had received training on symptoms, prevention and reporting procedures. The state has also trained airport staff to identify passengers who may have sudden fever and supplied them with thermometers, sanitisers and educational materials. A case-management team of doctors and nurses has been trained, while protective equipment and sample-collection materials have been acquired.

Alowooye listed possible Ebola symptoms as muscle pain, headache, stomach ache, vomiting, sudden high fever, difficulty breathing and skin rash. She advised residents to maintain hand and personal hygiene and report suspected cases quickly to health authorities. She urged people who had travelled to countries with reported outbreaks, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, to notify health officials and seek medical attention where necessary.

Dr Charles Doherty, the state health insurance scheme’s general manager, urged residents to report fevers that did not improve after two or three days and to cooperate with health workers. On diphtheria, Nigerian Red Cross official Atah Adegboyega said routine childhood immunisation and recommended vaccinations remained important preventive measures.