By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents of its preparedness to contain the Ebola virus, urging the public to remain vigilant, observe preventive measures and avoid panic.
The assurance comes following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the FCT, with health authorities maintaining that containment measures and surveillance systems are operational across the Territory.
Speaking to journalists and healthcare stakeholders in Abuja on Friday, October 23, the Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Fasawe Adedolapo, said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had directed public and private health facilities to strengthen surveillance and enforce strict infection prevention and control measures.
She said health facilities had been instructed to maintain a high index of suspicion for suspected cases and implement immediate screening and triage procedures at their entry points.
According to her, the Secretariat has also extended its preventive guidelines to faith-based organisations, funeral service managers and community leaders across Christian, Muslim and traditional institutions.
The guidelines emphasise safe handling practices, sanitation and compliance with public health protocols during burial rites and public gatherings.
Fasawe disclosed that designated isolation facilities, including those at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, were on standby to respond to any emerging needs.
She added that emergency hotlines and community health structures had been integrated into the response system to facilitate timely reporting and notification of suspected cases.
The mandate secretary urged residents to maintain good personal hygiene, avoid spreading unverified information and direct health-related concerns to official FCTA and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) channels.
Health authorities said only one confirmed case had so far been recorded in the Territory.
They added that primary and secondary contacts linked to the case had been identified, isolated and tested, with all completed laboratory results returning negative, while results from a few outstanding routine tests were still being awaited.
At the briefing, the Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Asaolu, outlined the standard operating procedures introduced across secondary healthcare facilities to strengthen preparedness and prevent possible transmission.
The measures include designated holding wards, mandatory temperature checks at hospital entrances, staff safety protocols and twice-daily inventory checks for personal protective equipment (PPE).
Asaolu said FCTA health facilities were working in collaboration with the NCDC and other public health stakeholders to sustain active surveillance while ensuring that routine medical services continued without disruption.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the NCDC, Dr. Tochi Okwor, said the Centre had deployed expert response teams to support preparedness, strengthen infection prevention and control, and provide training for healthcare workers across public and private hospitals in Abuja.
She stressed that strict adherence to hand hygiene, prompt reporting of suspected cases and rigorous infection prevention measures remained critical to preventing secondary transmission.
The authorities urged residents to remain calm but alert, emphasising that public cooperation and early reporting of suspected cases were essential to sustaining containment efforts.
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