NMA Advises FG to Create “Community Ebola Surveillance Units” to Continue Fight Against Ebola
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has advised the federal government to create “Community Ebola Surveillance Units” that will help continue the fight against the virus.
The President of the association, Dr Kayode Obembe at a press conference to mark the commencement of the Physicians week in Nigeria, said: “Community-Based Ebola Surveillance units should be established. Ebola is no longer a local but a global disease that must be eliminated from the terrestrial habitat.
“Illness with onset of fever and no response to treatment of usual causes of fever in the area, or at least one of the following signs: bleeding, body diarrhoea, bleeding into urine, or sudden death, once identified should be reported to the surveillance team or the closest health centre.”
While applauding the federal government’s efforts in curbing the spread of the disease, he continued: “For proper function of these isolation units, ambulance transfer services must be provided to convey probable and suspected cases to these units for evaluation and treatment.
“Ambulance staff must be trained and equipped for Ebola specific barrier nursing to reduce risk of patient staff cross infection while states should provide information on help lines and sources of information on the disease.”
The NMA also urged the provision of cremation sites in communities. States were also advised to provide resources and instruction for safe disposal of bodies and other bio hazardous material.
