The Borno Government has set up a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to strengthen preparedness and ensure a prompt response to any suspected case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the state.
Dr Goni Ali, Director of Public Health at the Borno Ministry of Health, said this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
Ali said the multidisciplinary team comprised trained public health professionals tasked with detecting, investigating and containing disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies across the state.
He said the state had also identified two isolation centres at health facilities to manage suspected Ebola cases.
According to him, the team will strengthen disease surveillance, investigate suspected cases, trace contacts, facilitate safe sample collection and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
He said the government would develop information, education and communication (IEC) materials to raise public awareness about Ebola prevention and encourage early reporting.
Ali said the team would coordinate activities among local government authorities, health facilities and relevant public health agencies to ensure effective outbreak management.
Preparedness measures would include providing adequate personal protective equipment, ensuring the safe transportation of suspected cases, managing waste properly and protecting frontline health workers from possible infection, he said.
The director added that health workers in public and private facilities would be sensitised to recognise suspected cases, safely isolate patients and promptly notify the relevant public health authorities.
He said surveillance would also be strengthened along major travel routes, at border crossings and in other areas with high population movement to facilitate the early detection of possible imported cases.
Ali emphasised the importance of risk communication and community engagement, urging residents to rely on verified information and avoid spreading rumours or stigmatising people suspected of infection.
He said the state would continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other stakeholders to ensure it was ready to respond to potential Ebola outbreaks.
Ali said early detection, immediate isolation, contact tracing and strict infection prevention measures remained critical to containing any potential outbreak and protecting public health in the state.
