By Lucky Isibor
The Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) has strengthened its preparedness for Ebola virus disease, activating its laboratory, mobile laboratory and clinical response capacities to support Nigeria’s readiness and response to the current outbreak.
The hospital, through its Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research (IVEPCR), disclosed this in a press statement signed by Joseph Okoeguale, Director of IVEPCR, ISTH, on behalf of the hospital.
According to the statement, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. R. A. Eifediyi, has spent the past 72 hours touring facilities to assess and reinforce preparedness measures in response to the outbreak.
The statement highlighted five key areas of readiness: laboratory readiness, diagnostic capacity, mobile laboratory deployment, clinical preparedness and response teams.
On laboratory readiness, the hospital said it had conducted diagnostic tests on a patient presenting with fever, with the results returning negative for Ebola virus disease and other viral infections tested.
“This exercise demonstrates our operational readiness and diagnostic capacity,” the statement said.
Regarding diagnostic capacity, ISTH/IVEPCR disclosed that Ebola diagnostic kits were available and that its laboratory personnel were prepared to conduct further 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.
The hospital also announced that two mobile laboratory units were fully operational and ready for deployment to strategic locations, including Abuja and international airports, when required under the national response plan.
On mobile laboratory deployment, the statement said: “Two mobile laboratory units are fully operational and ready for simultaneous deployment to strategic locations, including Abuja and international airports, as may be required by the national response plan.”
For clinical preparedness, the hospital said dedicated facilities had been prepared for confirmed Ebola cases, while separate isolation areas had been designated for suspected cases to ensure safe assessment, segregation and management.
The statement added that response teams, comprising clinical, laboratory and support personnel, were on standby to receive referrals and provide appropriate care in line with established infection prevention and control protocols.
“Our clinical, laboratory and support teams are on standby to receive referrals and provide appropriate care in line with established infection prevention and control protocols,” the statement said.
ISTH/IVEPCR further stated that it would continue to strengthen surveillance, diagnostic services, simulation exercises and response coordination in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other relevant partners.
The hospital urged healthcare workers and members of the public to remain vigilant, adhere to official public health guidance and avoid spreading unverified information about the outbreak.
“ISTH/IVEPCR remains ready to deploy its expertise, facilities and personnel in support of Nigeria’s coordinated response to Ebola virus disease,” the statement added.
The hospital’s announcement underscores its stated readiness to support national efforts to strengthen early detection, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and clinical management as public health authorities respond to the Ebola threat.