Plateau State reopens Ebola isolation centres
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Nigeria’s Plateau State has reopened its Ebola isolation centres and strengthened health surveillance, awareness campaigns and guidance for neighbouring local authorities. Health Commissioner Nicholas Ba’amlong also announced an assessment of airport safety measures and presented 10 resolutions adopted at a health meeting held the previous week, Leadership reports.
Plateau State in central Nigeria has reactivated its isolation centres and strengthened health surveillance to prevent the spread of Ebola. The Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, announced this to Leadership from Jos, the state capital.
The government has also tasked its emergency preparedness team with assessing safety measures at the airport and alerting local authorities in areas bordering neighbouring states. Nicholas Ba’amlong urged residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the blood and bodily fluids of people suspected of being infected, and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.
The measures accompany 10 resolutions adopted last week at the 12th meeting of the Plateau State Health Council. They include the creation of a health trust fund and an emergency fund, stronger disease surveillance and responses to shortages of healthcare workers, according to the commissioner.
The reactivation of the centres in Plateau is part of preparations launched in Nigeria after an isolated case of Ebola was confirmed in a female traveller on 23 October. On 26 October, the federal government also announced preparations for treatment centres in the affected states, while south-eastern states had announced isolation centres on 22 October. Nigeria confirms isolated Ebola case in female traveller; treatment centres in the affected states.
