By Peter Joseph,Benin<\/p>\n
In a bid to Edo people fom Ebola outbreak , Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State, has intensified its preparedness for the ongoing Ebola outbreak, activating its diagnostic and clinical response capacities, preparing dedicated isolation facilities and placing two mobile laboratories on standby for possible deployment to strategic locations across Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The hospital, through its Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research (IVEPCR), is strengthening its readiness to support the country\u2019s coordinated response to Ebola virus disease, with its laboratory, clinical and support teams prepared to respond to referrals and provide appropriate care in line with established infection prevention and control protocols.<\/p>\n
The Chief Medical Director of ISTH, Prof. R. A. Eifediyi, has been touring the hospital\u2019s facilities to assess preparedness and reinforce its capacity to respond effectively to the public health emergency.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued by the Director of IVEPCR, Joseph Okoeguale, the hospital disclosed that its laboratory had conducted diagnostic tests on a patient who presented with fever, with results negative for Ebola virus disease and other viral infections tested.<\/p>\n
The hospital described the exercise as a demonstration of its operational readiness and diagnostic capacity, underscoring the importance of prompt laboratory investigation in the assessment of patients presenting with symptoms that may raise concerns about viral infections.<\/p>\n
ISTH\/IVEPCR also confirmed that Ebola diagnostic kits were available and that its laboratory personnel were prepared to support additional testing in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant authorities.Get Health Tips<\/p>\n
In a major component of its emergency preparedness plan, the hospital said two mobile laboratory units were fully operational and ready for simultaneous deployment to strategic locations, including Abuja and international airports, if required under the national response plan.<\/p>\n
The mobile laboratories are expected to provide additional diagnostic support where needed, potentially strengthening the country\u2019s ability to investigate suspected cases and support public health response operations.<\/p>\n
The readiness of the units highlights the role of rapid and accessible laboratory services in managing public health emergencies, particularly those involving highly infectious diseases that require timely diagnosis and coordinated intervention.<\/p>\n
Beyond laboratory preparedness, ISTH said dedicated facilities had been prepared for confirmed Ebola cases, while separate isolation areas had been designated for suspected cases.<\/p>\n
The arrangements are intended to support the safe assessment, segregation and management of patients while helping to minimise the risk of infection transmission within healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n
According to the statement, the hospital\u2019s clinical, laboratory and support teams remain on standby to receive referrals and deliver appropriate care in accordance with established infection prevention and control protocols.<\/p>\n
The measures reflect a coordinated approach that combines diagnostic capacity, patient isolation, clinical management and personnel readiness, critical components of an effective response to a potentially serious infectious disease threat.<\/p>\n
ISTH\/IVEPCR said it would continue to strengthen disease surveillance, diagnostic services, simulation exercises and response coordination in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.Get Health Tips<\/p>\n
The institute also urged healthcare workers and members of the public to remain vigilant, adhere to official public health guidance and refrain from circulating unverified information that could trigger unnecessary fear or confusion.<\/p>\n
The hospital reaffirmed its commitment to deploying its expertise, facilities and personnel in support of Nigeria\u2019s coordinated preparedness and response efforts.Buy Maps<\/p>\n
As public health authorities work to strengthen readiness against Ebola virus disease, ISTH\u2019s activation of laboratory services, preparation of isolation facilities and mobilisation of mobile diagnostic units signal a concerted effort to ensure that the hospital can contribute to the national response when called upon.<\/p>\n
The hospital\u2019s message is clear: preparedness, rapid diagnosis, effective isolation and coordinated action remain central to protecting healthcare workers, patients and the wider public.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Peter Joseph,Benin In a bid to Edo people fom Ebola outbreak , Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State, has intensified its preparedness for the ongoing Ebola outbreak, activating its diagnostic and clinical response capacities, preparing dedicated isolation facilities and placing two mobile laboratories on standby for possible deployment to strategic locations across Nigeria. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19181"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19182,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19181\/revisions\/19182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}