By Sarah NEGEDU
The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has dispelled rumours of a possible outbreak of Ebola in the nation’s capital, declaring that the suspected case recorded in Abuja has tested negative.
Mandate Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who announced this at a press conference on Friday, said the FCT’s robust disease surveillance system enabled authorities to swiftly identify and thoroughly investigate the case, ensuring there was no risk to the public.
She explained that a woman who recently returned from Rwanda presented herself at a private hospital with fever symptoms, triggering a protocol for viral haemorrhagic fevers.
“Due to our operating protocols that have been put in place by the Honourable Minister, we have been able to curtail, not only curtail, have high index of suspicion, and we picked up patient X (name not disclosed for confidentiality reasons) and I hereby officially announce that she is negative for Ebola and negative for Marburg disease,” Fasawe said.
She added that the patient was isolated at at the hospital after doctors there raised an alarm and promptly reported to the FCT health team. “I want to commend patient X for her health-seeking habits. She came in with a fever. She didn’t even go home. She went straight to a hospital. I also commend the doctors with a high index of suspicion who called us,” she said.
According to her, contact tracing had already been initiated before the test result came back negative. “We had a possible one case that we were determined would not spread further than that one case. We had gone as far as to get a manifest on that airline. Everybody she had had contact with before coming into this place, and I’m happy to say we are sailing free. There is no Ebola. The patient is responding to treatment for her fever,” she said.
Fasawe, however, urged residents to be more vigilant about unusual symptoms stressing that not very fever is not malaria.
“If you have any sign of illness, especially with fever or bleeding from any orifice, it is a sign of potential danger. Bleeding from the nose, from the ears, from the eyes, from the anus or vagina, or any abnormal bleeding, even from the urethra, through a man urinating, it is a very, very big emergency. You have to report to the nearest health centre,” she warned.
She stressed that the FCT was prepared to contain any possible outbreak in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). “The disease is not here. But if it comes here, FCT is ready with all necessary tools. Thanks to the Minister, we are equipped to face it,” she said.
On the suspension of strike by resident doctors in Abuja, Fasawe confirmed that the FCT minister had approved payment of all outstanding allowances and the recruitment of additional healthcare personnel to strengthen the system.
She assured that, “Very soon, FCT doctors will be the best remunerated in the country. He has approved that all the agitations not only be looked into, be paid.”
The secretary also disclosed that out of the nearly 300 new health workers approved for employment, 27 doctors had already been engaged, with the rest to follow in the shortest possible time.
“Using this opportunity to also announce that the Minister has approved for more healthcare workers be employed in the FCT,” she said.
She explained that the delay in full implementation was to ensure a sustainable payment system. “Every allowance that is due will be paid, and so that we do not come back to this agitation again next year we have to put in place sustainable systems that these people are paid automatically,” she added.
The resident doctors who also confirmed the suspension of the strike following the minister’s intervention, described it as a turning point for the FCT health sector.
Chairman of the FCT Association of Resident Doctor, FCT-ARD, Dr George Ebong, while announcing the congress’ resolution to suspend the strike said, “This is because of the fact that the FCT Minister had granted all our requests. We’re grateful to him. We’re grateful to every other person that made this possible. We believe that only him could do this and he has done it and we want to assure him that together we’ll build a healthcare system together for the citizens of Abuja,” he said.
