Cross River has trained 34 health workers on infection prevention and control (IPC), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), to strengthen preparedness for a possible Ebola outbreak.

The training was held in Ikom Local Government Area on Monday.

The exercise was organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Ikom’s location along the border with the Republic of Cameroon makes it a strategic area for strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response.

Participants were drawn from Ikom, Etung, Yakurr, Obubra and Boki Local Government Areas of the state.

The organisers said the exercise aimed to strengthen the capacity of surveillance officers, laboratory personnel and other healthcare workers to detect, report and respond appropriately to suspected Ebola cases.

The state Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, represented by the state eppidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, urged residents to remain calm and maintain proper hygiene.

Mr Ayuk advised residents to avoid direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected or confirmed to have contracted the Ebola virus.

He also urged residents to practise regular hand hygiene and promptly seek professional medical advice if they suspected exposure or developed serious symptoms.

The commissioner said no Ebola case had been reported in the state at the time of the training.

He, however, stressed the importance of building health workers’ capacity before emergencies to ensure an effective public health response.

“Preparedness is essential to an effective public-health response.

“Equipping our health workers with the knowledge and skills to recognise and promptly report suspected cases will help ensure that the state is better positioned to respond to potential threats,” he said.

Mr Ayuk commended the WHO and NCDC for supporting the exercise, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the state’s readiness to respond to potential public health emergencies.

The commissioner said the training formed part of the state’s efforts to strengthen disease surveillance and improve its capacity to respond promptly to potential infectious disease threats.

Pavel Ursu, WHO country representative, stressed the importance of early detection, timely notification and strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols.

“Early recognition of suspected cases, prompt notification of the appropriate authorities, and strict infection prevention practices are critical to an effective Ebola response,” Mr Ursu said.

He was represented by Dr Edeh Edwin-Isotu, WHO national technical officer for public health and environment.

Mr Ursu emphasised the need for healthcare workers to understand and follow established procedures to protect themselves, their patients and the wider community.

He also discussed Ebola signs and symptoms, modes of transmission, relevant epidemiological developments and ongoing preparedness efforts. 

(NAN)