By Chris Chikelue
Following the new discovery of Ebola case by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State Government has adviced the people of the state not to panic.
This was handed down by the State Commission for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike on Wednesday, October 21 in a press conference in his office.
Commissioner Obidike said, “we have zero case of Ebola in Anambra and surveillance has been put at the airport and at various hospitals in the state to detect any case of the scourge.
“We have ten health informants per ward in the state and we are increasing our surveillance to accommodate any report of the Ebola disease in our state”.
About been prepared to handle the outbreak of infectious diseases in the state Dr. Obidike said, “we have had a meeting and still holding such on the emergence of infectious diseases especially looking at Lassa fever.
“We never knew we are going to have this case of Ebola which just happened yesterday at Abuja; it is a confirmed case; We know that the index case is diagnosed in an Abuja Private Hospital but in Anambra we have been having incidents of Lassa fever which shares almost the same symptoms or characteristics with ebola and they are classified into the viral haematology fever.
“We have been having meetings with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, MSF, the Association of Public Health Practitioners of Nigeria and other partners preparing on how to prevent any occurrence in Anambra and infact to increase surveillance.
“If there is any case that enters Anambra, we will be able to pick it and be able to have the patient treated and guided.”
The commissioner therefore adviced the people of the state not to panic and that the state ministry of Health is working closely with partners of public health epidemiologist to ensure that surveillance is increased especially at the entrance and boarders of the state, and to educate them accordingly on prevention and how to call for help when necessary.
