Ebola Virus Disease: Osun govt expands awareness, plans jingles, emergency isolation facility

Osun State Government has resolved to expand public awareness campaigns on Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, including multilingual radio and television broadcasts, as part of efforts to prevent the disease from spreading into the state.

The decision was reached at a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Ebola Virus Disease, where stakeholders reviewed the state’s preparedness and response measures.

A report of the meeting, prepared by the Public Health Operations Centre in the Osun State Ministry of Health outlined several measures to strengthen disease prevention, surveillance and emergency response.

The committee identified public sensitisation, the provision of a designated emergency isolation facility, improved coordination at the local government level and the training of healthcare workers as priority areas requiring urgent attention.

According to the report, the state government is expected to reclaim, prepare and open its designated emergency isolation facility within one week to strengthen its capacity to manage suspected Ebola cases.

“The state is to reclaim, prepare and open the designated facility within one week,” the report stated.

The report also recommended that Ebola preparedness coordination meetings be replicated across local government areas with the participation of Local Government Rapid Response Teams.

The committee also called on the Ministry of Health to commence capacity-building activities for healthcare responders, beginning with existing master trainers, and arrange dedicated emergency ambulances to support the transportation of suspected cases.

To improve public understanding of the disease, the report recommended expanding health education jingles and broadcast materials in Hausa and other local languages, alongside the planned Yoruba-language communication.

“Health promotion teams are to expand educational jingles and broadcast materials in Hausa and other local languages, in addition to the planned Yoruba-language communication,” the report stated.

The committee recommended the establishment of holding bays in selected hospitals, the replenishment of essential protective supplies, stronger disease surveillance and improved coordination among rapid-response teams.

It also called for greater engagement with private healthcare practitioners to support early detection and appropriate reporting of suspected cases.

On funding and implementation, the report stressed the need for emergency financial support, timely executive approvals, adequate resources and clearly assigned responsibilities.

It stated that the effectiveness of the agreed measures would depend on regular monitoring by the State Steering Committee.

“The agreed actions provide a framework for strengthening the state’s preparedness and response capacity. Timely approvals, sufficient resources and consistent monitoring would be necessary to implement the recommendations,” it stated.

Osun government’s preparations come amid a Federal Government directive urging hospitals nationwide to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention and control measures against Ebola.

The Federal Government has also warned that 15 states are yet to update their response plans as authorities intensify efforts to strengthen the country’s readiness to contain the outbreak.