NOA inaugurates Ebola awareness campaign in Jigawa

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The Jigawa Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it has concluded arrangements to embark on a public enlightenment campaign against Ebola disease across the state.

The Director of the agency in the state, Malam Ahmad Tijjani, said this in an interview with the Newsmen on Friday in Dutse, noting that the campaign would cover all 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

He explained that recent Ebola cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda necessitated proactive measures to prevent any possible outbreak in Nigeria and Jigawa.

According to him, information on the disease will be shared in a way that promotes caution without causing panic among residents.

Tijjani said Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) across the 27 LGAs had been directed to begin educating citizens on the signs and symptoms of Ebola, including fever, headache, and body weakness.

He added that residents would also be advised to report immediately to health facilities upon noticing symptoms while maintaining strict personal hygiene practices.

“Citizens are also urged to maintain personal hygiene and use hand sanitisers regularly,” Tijjani advised.

He said the campaign would be taken to markets, motor parks, schools, traditional institutions, and places of worship to ensure wide coverage and public engagement.

Tijjani added that the agency would collaborate with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), as well as the state disease control department.

He said the campaign was a non-pharmaceutical intervention aimed at preventing an outbreak through sustained public awareness and accurate information dissemination.