FCTA issues red alert warning for communicable diseases

Following reported cases of resurgence of Ebola and other communicable diseases, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has strengthened its disease surveillance system to minimize its impact on the Territory.

The Director of the FCT Department of Public Health, Dr. Sadiq Abdulrahaman, revealed this while briefing the media in Abuja on the preparation and response of the FCTA health sector.

As a result, the staff of the Department of Public Health’s Epidemiological Division has been placed on red alert under the supervision of the FCT Secretary of Health and Human Services.

According to Sadiq, the FCT is in high alert mode, although it has yet to witness any serious outbreak of the diseases within the past year.

He added that a regular or weekly review was conducted in conjunction with Administration partners such as the World Health Organization, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Disease Surveillance and Notification officers, who were key foot soldiers. at the Area Council level.

“For the Ebola viral disease, which is a major global disease of public health concern, although it has not yet been witnessed in Nigeria except for the last case in 2014, but we are aware that there is already an outbreak in the Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo, with so many consequences of a good number of deaths, and closure of schools. So here (in the FCT), we’ve run a high alert mode even though we haven’t witnessed any cases yet. So, proactive steps have been taken,” he said.

Sadiq also said that the FCTA had purchased commodities to contain the diseases, particularly in areas of the territory hardest hit by the outbreak, including AMAC, Kuje and Bwari.

“Our surveillance system has been stepped up and FCT Management has purchased a large number of commodities, particularly for these key diseases like cholera that we witnessed in 2021. We conducted promotional visits to key stakeholders, especially in those Area Councils. that had high disease potential during the outbreak such as AMAC, Kuje and Bwari,” he added.