NATIONAL BIOSAFETY MANAGEMENT AGENCY PROMISE TO SUPPORT NCDC CONTAIN EBOLA VIRUS
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant following the reported confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr Fatima Suleiman-Zuntu,
reaffirmed NBMA’s commitment to supporting the national response through its biosafety and biosecurity expertise.
Dr Suleiman-Zuntu commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and their partners for their response efforts.
She noted that Nigeria’s experience in containing Ebola in 2014 underscores the importance of preparedness, coordinated action, scientific evidence and public cooperation.
The Director-General said the Agency is ready to make its biosafety experts available to the NCDC and relevant response teams to support ongoing containment and infection prevention efforts.
She urged Nigerians to follow official health advisories, practise good hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone who is ill, and refrain from handling the bodies of persons suspected to have died from Ebola.
Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly following contact with a suspected or confirmed case or travel to an affected area, should promptly seek guidance from public health authorities and cooperate with contact-tracing efforts.
It adds that members of the public who need verified information could contact the following toll-free numbers: NCDC on 6232 or the Agency on 0808 225 4683.
