The Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Health, Dr Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this in an interview with PUNCH Online on Wednesday after a meeting to assess the Ebola situation and determine the preventive measures required.
Abubakar said the government was working to ensure health facilities were adequately prepared to respond to any suspected case, while intensifying public education on Ebola prevention and the importance of adhering to infection prevention and control protocols.
“We have already identified the necessary actions that we will continue to take. Part of them is strengthening facility readiness and awareness,” he said.
He explained that community engagement remained central to the state’s preparedness strategy, adding that officials were developing public information messages to educate residents about the disease and ways to reduce the risk of transmission.
“We are currently developing messages to distribute across various media platforms. We will also engage the media in sensitising the community through radio, television and other channels,” Abubakar said.
The director added that the government was planning awareness campaigns at major transport hubs, including motor parks and railway stations, to reach travellers and other members of the public with relevant information about Ebola.
He said the initiatives formed part of wider efforts to strengthen the state’s capacity to respond promptly to potential public health emergencies.
According to Abubakar, the Ministry of Health also intends to issue a public health advisory outlining the precautions residents should take to protect themselves and help prevent the spread of the disease.
“Usually, when we have issues of public health concern, we release public health advisories,” he said.
Abubakar assured residents that the government would continue to assess its preparedness arrangements and communicate further measures as they were developed.
He urged the public to rely on official health information and follow recommended preventive guidance as Kaduna strengthens its readiness against a potential Ebola outbreak.
