‘Protecting our health workers is our paramount concern’

Why did you call a meeting of all your chief executives?This meeting is to engage the chief executives officers of the state primary health care development agencies with a view to be on top of the Ebola virus challenges at the primary health care sub sector. 80% of Nigerians have their first contact with the […]

Why did you call a meeting of all your chief executives?
This meeting is to engage the chief executives officers of the state primary health care development agencies with a view to be on top of the Ebola virus challenges at the primary health care sub sector. 80% of Nigerians have their first contact with the PHC and if we are not on top of the situation, then there would be a major challenge.
We are sensitizing all primary health workers  across the country so that they are aware of the types of signs to look out for, what they need to do in terms of response and the surveillance system, and in addition how to protect themselves because health workers are the greatest at risk when it comes to exposure. We don’t want a situation whereby while the health workers are managing people, they get infected, so we are sensitizing them to be on top of the situation, so that while we manage the patient we protect them from the infection.

Aside from awareness, what is the agency doing to protect them in terms of providing of kits?
This meeting goes beyond sensitization for health workers, we would at this meeting also develop the appropriate guidelines and the standard operating practices, in terms of what they are supposed to do, wear, the signs they are supposed to look for and if there is high index substitution, what to do in terms of referral, and also the contact numbers, including kitting them, and ensuring that at all times personal hygiene is adhered to, like using sanitizers to keep themselves clean. A lot of important issues are going to come out of this meeting and its going to be documented through a guideline on standard operation practice and pasted in every health facility nationwide.
Has the agency started the deployment of kits to health workers at the facilities?
When the virus debut in Lagos, the minister of health asked that these protective kits be deployed to the Lagos area, where the index case was discovered. The roll out to other states and local government is ongoing. Most of the commissioner of health and state governors have already procured some of these kits, and commenced distribution to facilities. What we are doing at the national level is to provide national quotation and response, and we will continue to work with the states to see that these things happen. I also want to say that areas that need bridging the gap from the federal government, the minister of health has assured that we are willing and working closely with the states.
We have also established a national emergency operation centre for Ebola virus in Nigeria, and that is learning from the polio emergency centre which we have, and Dr Fesha Shuaibu has been appointed as the incident manager, and works with us in the agency as the deputy incident manager for polio, and has been deployed as the incident manager for Ebola virus.
All information in terms of surveillance, tactical operational management as it relates with polio will be used to manage the Ebola virus.

Can the centres handle this volatile epidemic?
It is a public health challenge, and as a country we are fully prepared, the minister of health is making sure that all ends are covered. Let me take you down memory lane, you remember when we had the Lassa fever outbreak Nigeria responded well, we had the meningitis outbreak we handled that, we had the yellow fever epidemic, and we contained it, so the Ebola virus will be contained, but I want to say that the public health system in Nigeria with support from partners is working very hard. I believe that under the supervision of Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu we will over come this Ebola virus.