KDSG, NASFAT Doka Branch Intensify Ebola Awareness, Urge Preventive Measures

KDSG, NASFAT Doka Branch Intensify Ebola Awareness, Urge Preventive Measures

By Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

The Kaduna State Government and the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Doka Branch, Kaduna, have intensified calls for vigilance and preventive measures against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), urging residents to remain alert and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.

While the Kaduna State Government has issued a public health advisory urging residents to remain calm but vigilant following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, NASFAT Doka Branch has also taken the awareness campaign to its members and the wider community.

The government, through the Ministry of Health, issued the advisory dated October 21, 2026, emphasising the importance of disease surveillance, early detection and public cooperation in preventing the spread of the disease.

Similarly, during the branch’s weekly Asalat programme, a medical practitioner, Dr Nuhu Folorunsho, who is also Vice Chairman of the NASFAT Doka Branch Elders Committee, called on members and the general public to take the necessary precautions against Ebola.

Dr Folorunsho explained that Ebola is a rare but severe viral disease that can be fatal, stressing that public awareness, personal hygiene and early medical intervention are essential to reducing the risk of infection and preventing deaths.

He explained that the disease spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated objects and infected animals.

The medical practitioner clarified that Ebola is not transmitted through casual contact or by simply breathing the same air as an infected person.

He noted that the virus can enter the body through cuts or broken skin and through the eyes, nose and mouth when a person comes into contact with infectious body fluids.

According to him, the incubation period—the time between exposure to the virus and the appearance of symptoms—ranges from two to 21 days. He added that an infected person does not transmit the disease before symptoms develop.

Speaking on the symptoms and Preventive measures, Dr Folorunsho urged residents to be alert to the warning signs of Ebola, which include sudden fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain and sore throat.

Other symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea and skin rash, while unexplained bleeding can occur in some cases.

He advised anyone who develops symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to the virus, to seek immediate medical attention at a recognised health facility and inform healthcare workers about any relevant travel or contact history.

The NASFAT Doka Branch medical practitioner also stressed the importance of regular handwashing with soap and clean running water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

He cautioned against direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola, as well as contact with materials contaminated by such fluids.

On burial practices, he warned members of the public against touching the bodies of people who may have died from suspected Ebola, explaining that safe and dignified burials must be handled by trained personnel.

He further advised residents to avoid handling sick or dead wild animals and to refrain from eating raw or inadequately cooked animal products.

The advice aligns with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health’s public health advisory, which calls for heightened vigilance, prompt reporting of suspected cases and cooperation with health officials conducting surveillance and contact tracing.

The state government has also urged healthcare workers, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), community leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, promptly identify suspected cases, observe infection prevention and control measures, and report suspected infections to the appropriate authorities.

Concerning early treatment and community responsibility, Dr Folorunsho emphasised that early identification and prompt medical care are crucial in managing Ebola Virus Disease and improving the chances of survival.

He explained that supportive hospital care, including the management of fluid levels and other vital body functions, is important in treating patients.

Specific treatments are also available for certain types of Ebola virus infection and may be administered under appropriate medical supervision.

He stressed that prevention remains a shared responsibility, requiring individuals, religious organisations, healthcare providers and government agencies to work together to protect communities.

The medical practitioner urged NASFAT members and the wider public to take the health warning seriously, practise good hygiene and avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary fear or stigmatising individuals.

The Kaduna State Government, in its advisory, similarly called for calmness, vigilance and community cooperation, noting that early detection and prompt reporting are essential to preventing the spread of the disease.

Both the government advisory and NASFAT Doka Branch’s sensitisation underscore the importance of public awareness, responsible behaviour and timely medical attention in protecting Kaduna residents against Ebola Virus Disease.