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The Kano State Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC, has carried out a simulation exercise to assess the state’s readiness to respond to a possible Ebola outbreak.
The centre’s Director-General, Prof. Muhammad Abbas, disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Sunday, explaining that the exercise was designed to prepare health workers for a possible emergency.
“We have conducted what is known as a simulation exercise, which is a practical rehearsal of how we would respond if such an incident occurred,” he said.
Abbas explained that the exercise covered the process of identifying a suspected case at the airport or the state’s border and transporting the patient to the Yar Gaya Isolation Centre.
“We simulated the process from the airport or the state’s border, demonstrating how a patient would be transported all the way to Yar Gaya Isolation Centre.
“Sometimes, when such incidents occur, personnel who are unfamiliar with the procedures may become confused. That is why we conduct these training exercises regularly,” he added.
He said the state began taking preventive steps after receiving information from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC.
The KNCDC chief also urged residents to maintain good hygiene, particularly by washing their hands regularly with soap and running water.
“As part of the preventive measures, we advise people to wash their hands frequently, just as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic. People should wash their hands regularly with soap and running water, rather than using water stored in a bucket, cup or basin,” he said.
He warned that using shared water in a container could expose people to germs if an infected person had used it.
“If someone washes their hands in a container of water, and the disease-causing germs are present, they may remain in the water and infect another person who uses it. That is why we recommend washing hands under running water.
“Where running water is unavailable, people should use hand sanitiser, as it contains ingredients that help kill germs,” he added.
Abbas said the state government, under Governor Abba Yusuf, was taking the threat seriously and had made preparations to deal with any suspected case.
He added that health authorities were ready to manage any case detected in the state, although they hoped the disease would not spread to Kano.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Labaran Yusuf, said the government had strengthened surveillance at major entry points to prevent the possible introduction and spread of Ebola.
These include the international airport, bus stations, major highways and the state’s borders.
Yusuf said health workers had already received training to handle suspected Ebola cases and other public health emergencies, rather than waiting for an outbreak before preparing.
“We have already trained personnel on this. We have people who know what to do whenever there is a suspected case,” he said.
He added that the KNCDC has facilities and response systems that could be activated to manage suspected cases if necessary.
The commissioner urged residents to remain alert, particularly in crowded areas and places where travellers from different locations gather.
Yusuf assured residents that the government would continue monitoring public health threats and improving its emergency response measures to protect the population from infectious diseases.