KANO CDC TO TRAIN MOTOR PARK WORKERS ON EBOLA SURVEILLANCE
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has announced plans to appoint and train surveillance focal persons at motor parks across the state to strengthen Ebola preparedness and ensure early reporting of suspected cases.
The Director-General of KNCDC, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, disclosed this during a sensitisation programme at Mariri and Naibawa motor parks in Kano.
Represented by the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Dr Babangida Saleh Kibiya, Abbas said the initiative followed information from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, prompting the state to strengthen its surveillance activities.
He explained that the trained focal persons would help identify passengers, drivers and transport workers showing symptoms associated with Ebola and report suspected cases to health authorities.
The director-general urged residents and transport workers to remain vigilant and report suspected cases through the KNCDC hotline, 08069009999. He also advised the public to maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid sharing water containers.
Abbas added that the centre had conducted simulation exercises to test its emergency response procedures, including the safe transportation of suspected patients to the Yar Gaya Isolation Centre.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers at Mariri Taxi Branch pledged support for the initiative and promised to provide members for the training.