The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has begun moves to set up an Infection Outbreak Situation Room as part of efforts to boost its preparedness for possible Ebola cases and other public health emergencies.
The proposed initiative was announced on Tuesday, November 3, by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Chituru Godwil Orluwene, after a meeting with members of its Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee.
The committee was asked to improve the hospital’s ability to early detect, assess risk and coordinate emergency response.
Kem Daniel-Elebiga, the Head of Media and Publicity of the hospital, said the meeting also touched on staff training, availability of protective equipment, patient screening, reporting procedures and arrangements for isolating suspected cases.
The development comes after the Federal Government confirmed an imported case of Ebola in Abuja, leading to renewed surveillance and preparedness across the country.
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According to the November 3 situation report of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there was one confirmed case nationally and five suspected cases. Rivers State recorded one suspected case and no confirmed infection.
The NCDC further said 62 contacts associated with the confirmed case have been identified, out of which 57 are in quarantine facilities.
Expanded health surveillance measures are in place at a number of the country’s entry points, including Port Harcourt International Airport. As of November 3, the agency said 634 travelers had been screened at the airport.
UPTH said it would collaborate with the NCDC, Rivers State health authorities, Federal Government and other relevant agencies in supporting surveillance and outbreak response activities.
The hospital also appealed to healthcare workers to report suspected infections in a timely manner and follow approved infection prevention and control procedures.
Residents were advised to maintain good hand hygiene, avoid contact with blood and other body fluids of suspected or confirmed Ebola patients and to obtain health information from authorized sources.
The proposed Situation Room is part of a larger preparedness effort at the hospital. UPTH has not said when the facility will be operational.
