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The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, has dismissed fears of an Ebola outbreak in Abuja.
She assured residents that the territory remains free of the deadly disease.
Addressing reporters on Friday, September 19, Dr. Fasawe confirmed that a suspected case, involving a traveler recently returned from Rwanda, tested negative for both Ebola and Marburg viruses.
She praised the patient for promptly seeking medical attention and the hospital for following protocols by isolating the individual and alerting health authorities.
“This is not the first suspected case we have handled this year, but our surveillance system has been proactive and effective,” she said, highlighting the commissioning of an Emergency Operations Centre and the activities of an active surveillance team as reasons for the swift response.
The Secretary commended the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for strengthening the health sector and putting measures in place to secure Abuja’s borders, particularly the airports, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
She urged residents to avoid panic, warning that not all fevers are malaria.
“Any illness involving fever or unexplained bleeding from the nose, ears, eyes or other body openings must be reported immediately. It is a medical emergency,” she said.
On the recent strike by resident doctors, Dr. Fasawe said the FCT administration had already begun addressing their demands, including the employment of 37 new doctors out of a planned 300 healthcare workers.
She added that health workers’ allowances recently approved by the Minister would be paid once due processes were completed.
Resident doctors under the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCTA, had suspended their strike following the Minister’s intervention.
The association’s President, Dr. Osundayo Tope Zenith, clarified that the strike was not politically motivated but meant to draw attention to the sector’s challenges.
“We appreciate the Minister for his generosity and for treating health as a priority. He attended to everything on our list of demands,” Zenith said, also thanking Dr. Fasawe for her role in resolving the dispute.
Also at the briefing were Permanent Secretary, Health Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adams, the Minister’s aide on Public Communication, Mr. Lere Olayinka, and ARD FCTA Chairman, Dr. George Obong.
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