The FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat has directed public and private health facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures and maintain a high index of suspicion for Ebola virus disease.

The Mandate Secretary of the Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, gave the directive at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

She urged health facilities to strengthen screening and triage procedures and designate isolation areas for suspected cases.

Ms Fasawe said all clinical, administrative and support staff must be briefed on early symptom recognition, protective measures and reporting procedures.

She added that the Secretariat had engaged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), FCT Chapter, to support awareness and preparedness across public and private hospitals.

Ms Fasawe said the Secretariat would provide information materials on Ebola symptoms, immediate response measures and verified reporting channels to promote community awareness.

She urged media organisations to display the materials during news broadcasts and disseminate accurate information through their platforms.

The mandate secretary also urged families, religious leaders and funeral service providers across Muslim, Christian and other faith communities to observe infection prevention and control measures when preparing, handling and burying deceased persons.

She said the measures included proper hand hygiene, the use of protective equipment appropriate to exposure risks, and the safe handling of materials and surfaces.

“Anywhere Ebola is suspected or confirmed, families must promptly notify response teams and avoid touching, washing or preparing the body,” she said.

Ms Fasawe added that trained burial teams would work with families and religious leaders to ensure safe and dignified burials while respecting religious rites within approved safety protocols.

She urged residents to remain calm, practise regular hand hygiene and promptly report suspected cases through designated channels.

Ms Fasawe stressed that early reporting and coordinated action were essential to protecting patients, health workers and communities.

Also speaking, Tochi Okwor, an official of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols was critical to preventing transmission in health facilities.

Mr Okwor urged healthcare providers to establish screening and triage points at facility entrances and introduce systems for screening inpatients for symptoms that could indicate a suspected case.

He said all healthcare workers, including those responsible for laundry, waste management and other support services, must be trained and equipped to implement appropriate IPC measures.

According to him, hand hygiene, injection safety, proper waste management and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to the level of exposure must be strictly enforced.

Mr Okwor urged health facilities to designate holding areas for suspected cases and establish clear procedures for notifying response teams, accessing protective equipment and managing patients pending assessment by public health authorities.

He said the NCDC had supported hospitals across Nigeria in establishing IPC programmes since 2019 and was working with partners and relevant authorities to strengthen the capacity of health facilities in the FCT.

Mr Okwor added that the agency planned to support facilities in establishing triage points and reviewing their IPC protocols, with training and practical assistance to be provided.

He urged the media to ensure that the public received accurate information about Ebola disease.

(NAN)