The Ondo State Government has intensified efforts to guard against a possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), setting aside four ambulances for the transportation of suspected patients and strengthening preparedness across healthcare facilities.
The state government said it was taking proactive steps to ensure that suspected infections could be detected early, reported promptly and managed safely in line with national health guidelines.
The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, disclosed the measures during an interview in Akure, the state capital, on Saturday.
He clarified that no Ebola case had been recorded in Ondo State, describing the ongoing preparations as preventive actions aimed at protecting residents and ensuring that health authorities could respond effectively if a suspected infection emerged.
According to Odimayo, the government has established a committee to coordinate the state’s preparedness activities, while selected members of the response team have been sent to Abuja for specialised training.
He explained that the training was intended to strengthen the capacity of health personnel to manage potential cases and improve the state’s readiness to respond to a public health emergency.
The health adviser also disclosed that the government had recently procured about 15 ambulances, with four being designated for the transportation of suspected Ebola patients.
He said the decision was consistent with national guidelines on the movement of suspected cases and formed part of the arrangements being put in place to prevent delays in emergency response.
“The state is doing a lot. We have already set up a committee that is working. We have sent some of our team to Abuja for some training programmes,” Odimayo said.
He added that the government had acquired several ambulances in recent times and was dedicating some of them specifically to the possible transportation of suspected patients if the need arose.
Beyond emergency transportation, the government is strengthening disease surveillance and directing healthcare workers to remain alert to symptoms associated with Ebola.
Odimayo said hospitals, primary healthcare centres and health posts across the state had been notified to maintain vigilance and comply with established procedures for reporting suspected infections.
He explained that health workers were expected to recognise warning signs, notify the appropriate authorities and ensure that suspected patients were referred through designated channels for medical assessment.
The measures are intended to support early identification and reduce the possibility of delays that could complicate efforts to contain an infectious disease.
The government is also making arrangements for the isolation of suspected cases to ensure that individuals requiring further assessment can be managed appropriately while limiting potential exposure to others.
Odimayo disclosed that personal protective equipment (PPE) had been provided through the state’s designated emergency management agency.
He said logistical arrangements were also being reviewed to ensure that essential supplies could reach healthcare facilities whenever they were required.
The adviser stressed that protecting medical personnel was a key element of the preparedness strategy, noting that health workers needed appropriate equipment and practical knowledge to handle suspected cases safely.
He explained that effective infection prevention measures would help protect healthcare providers while supporting efforts to contain any potential transmission.
Public awareness has also been identified as an important part of the state’s response, with the government stepping up efforts to educate residents about Ebola and the precautions they should observe.
According to Odimayo, community mobilisers have been instructed to take health information to residents at the grassroots level to ensure that preventive messages reach people in different communities.
The state is also using radio jingles, educational materials and media engagements to provide information about the disease and encourage members of the public to report suspected cases promptly.
“We have our agents, our community mobilisers. We have informed them to inform the people at the grassroots level. We have also produced jingles and written materials that people will be able to utilise,” he said.
The awareness campaign is expected to improve public understanding of the disease and encourage residents to cooperate with health authorities rather than rely on rumours or unverified information.
Odimayo urged residents to remain calm, emphasising that the preventive measures should not be interpreted as confirmation of an Ebola outbreak in the state.
He advised the public to observe proper personal hygiene, including regular handwashing with soap and water, as part of efforts to reduce the risk of infection.
Residents were also warned against direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
He further advised people to avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths with unwashed hands, particularly where there is a possibility of exposure to contaminated materials.
Anyone who suspects an Ebola infection has been advised to contact the appropriate health authorities immediately and follow professional guidance instead of attempting to manage the situation independently.
Ebola is a severe infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated objects.
Prompt identification, appropriate protective measures and safe medical management are important in preventing further transmission.
The Ondo State Government said it would continue to strengthen its surveillance systems, emergency response arrangements and public education programmes as part of its efforts to protect residents.
Odimayo reiterated that no Ebola case had been recorded in the state, assuring residents that the government was taking steps to improve its capacity to respond to any suspected infection.
He urged the public to remain attentive to official health information and cooperate with the relevant authorities as the state continues to implement its preventive measures.
The government maintained that its priority was to ensure that healthcare workers, emergency response teams and communities were adequately prepared to identify and respond to potential cases without unnecessary delays.
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