The Kano State Government says it has trained health workers and strengthened emergency response measures to prepare for a possible Ebola outbreak, urging residents to remain vigilant and observe preventive measures against the disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, disclosed this in Kano on Friday, assuring residents that the state had established mechanisms to detect and manage suspected cases before any possible outbreak.
“We already have an existing response and preparedness mechanism on the ground, even before Ebola comes to Nigeria,” Yusuf said.
He explained that Kano’s status as a major international commercial centre, which attracts traders and visitors from different parts of the world, makes it necessary for the state to maintain effective disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
“Kano is an international commercial centre where different people come every day for trade, so we have to remain prepared,” he added.
The commissioner said the government had intensified monitoring at strategic entry points, including the international airport, bus stations, major highways and border areas, to facilitate the early detection and prevention of the possible entry and spread of the Ebola virus.
According to him, health workers across the state have also received training on how to identify and handle suspected Ebola cases, as well as respond effectively to public health emergencies.
Yusuf further disclosed that the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has the necessary facilities and response mechanisms to manage suspected cases should the need arise.
“We have the KNCDC and facilities for managing such cases, even though we pray and hope that we will not have any victim,” he said.
The commissioner urged residents to exercise caution in crowded places, particularly locations frequented by travellers and visitors from different communities and countries.
He also emphasised the importance of personal hygiene in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, advising residents to wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitiser, especially after physical contact with other people.
Yusuf assured the public that the state government would continue to monitor emerging public health threats and strengthen its preparedness and emergency response systems to safeguard the health and well-being of residents.
He called on residents to remain alert, practise good hygiene and cooperate with health authorities as the state sustains efforts to prevent and respond to potential public health emergencies.
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