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ISDS 2018 Conference Abstracts

Response to Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Nigeria, 
West Africa: The Zaria experience
Aisha Abubakar*, Kabir Sabitu, Mohammed Nasir Sambo, Abdulrazaq Gobir, 
Sani Ibrahim, Sulaiman Bashir and Ahmad Umar
Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria

Objective
To assess the formation and function of a joint committee of the 

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the Ahmadu Bello University 
Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) to prevent and control EVD in Zaria and 
the North West sub region of Nigeria.

Introduction
The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was 

unprecedented in spread and its attendant response. There were over 
15,000 confirmed cases and over 9,000 suspected cases. The response 
to the outbreak was massive within Africa and beyond. The outbreak 
in Nigeria affected 19 people and led to 7 deaths (CFR 37%). There 
were more than 891 contacts of these cases under surveillance as of 
23rd September 2014. Nigeria was declared EVD free by the World 
Health Organization in October 2014.

Nationwide there was targeted preparedness to prevent and control 
EVD. In Zaria, this led to the formation of a joint committee of the 
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the Ahmadu Bello University 
Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) to prevent and control EVD in Zaria and 
the sub region as a whole.

Methods
A joint multidisciplinary committee was formed by ABU and 

ABUTH with representatives from the Department of Community 
Medicine, Internal Medicine, Nursing sciences, Veterinary Public 
Health, Medical Microbiology, Mass Communication, Directorate of 
Public Affairs ABU Zaria, General Administration and Management 
services division ABUTH, the University Health Services and the 
Centre for Disease Risk Management under the Department of 
Geography. Four subcommittees were created steered by the main 
committee. The subcommittees were Surveillance; Case Management; 
Infection Control and Social and Mass mobilization subcommittees

Results
The committee conducted seminars and trainings in case 

management, surveillance and infection control. Mass media 
campaigns included radio jingles production and airing as well as 
production of flyers and posters on EVD prevention and control. 
There was a phone-in live radio programme. A screening exercise for 
raised temperature was conducted using laser thermometers at main 
entry points. A case of suspected EVD was managed who turned out 
to be a case of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Conclusions
The committee was enriched by its multidisciplinary nature and 

a blueprint for the control and prevention of EVD was developed in 
line with national and global standards. The committee was hampered 
with lack of funds to implement fully the blueprint for the prevention 
and control of EVD in Zaria and its environs. The committee 
transformed into the ABU/ABUTH Epidemic Preparedness and 
Response Committee after the outbreak was over to address other 
emerging epidemics.

Keywords
Ebola Virus Disease; Prepareness; prevention

Acknowledgments
The Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria

References
ABU/ABUTH Joint Committee For The Prevention And Control Of Ebola 

Virus Disease (ABUPACE) Blueprint For Prevention And Control Of 
Ebola Virus Disease In ABU/ABUTH Zaria 2014. Pages 1-44

World Health Organization. WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in 
Nigeria www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2014/nigeria-
ends-ebola/en/

*Aisha Abubakar
E-mail: draishau@yahoo.com

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics * ISSN 1947-2579 * http://ojphi.org * 10(1):e166, 2018