PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS URGED TO STRENGTHEN INFECTION PREVENTION MEASURES AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES
By: Reginald Uhegbu
Primary health care workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been urged to remain proactive and strictly implement Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other infectious diseases.
The Director of Community Health Services at the FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Aderonke Akande, gave the advice during an Infection Prevention and Control Coordination Meeting involving stakeholders and primary health care workers in the territory.
Akande, who is also the Chairperson of the Board’s IPC Committee, cautioned health workers against lowering their guard when attending to patients and visitors at their facilities.
She emphasised the need for strict adherence to established triage procedures, noting that the measures would enable health workers to promptly identify individuals presenting with medical conditions and ensure they receive appropriate attention.
According to her, consistent implementation of infection prevention protocols remains critical to protecting health workers, patients and visitors while preventing the transmission of infectious diseases within health facilities.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review ongoing Ebola outbreaks and assess the FCT’s preparedness and response measures. Discussions focused on strengthening coordination and collaboration, addressing implementation challenges and developing strategies to improve infection prevention and control across primary health care facilities.
Also speaking, the FCT Epidemiologist, Dr. Lukeman Lawal, briefed participants on the current situation of Ebola Virus Disease in the territory.
Lawal assured residents that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had put adequate mechanisms in place to prevent, contain and control the spread of the disease.
He urged continued vigilance and cooperation among health workers and stakeholders as the territory strengthens its preparedness against Ebola and other public health threats.
