Ebola: PSN orders pharmacies to activate emergency surveillance

…Warns against self-medication, directs immediate isolation, reporting of suspected cases

By Chioma Obinna

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, on Saturday placed pharmacists and community pharmacies across the country on high alert following fresh Ebola virus disease, EVD, outbreaks reported in parts of Central and East Africa.

In an urgent nationwide advisory issued to members, the President of the PSN, Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, directed all pharmacists to immediately strengthen surveillance, infection prevention measures and emergency response protocols to prevent a possible outbreak in Nigeria.

The directive comes amid heightened concerns over cross-border transmission risks, even as the Coordinating Minister of Health confirmed that Nigeria has not recorded any Ebola case.

The PSN, however, warned that pharmacists remain among the first healthcare professionals likely to encounter suspected cases and must therefore maintain absolute vigilance.

“Community pharmacies are often the first port of call for individuals experiencing early symptoms of illness. Pharmacists across all 36 states and the FCT must maintain a high index of suspicion.”

The society explained that Ebola symptoms may begin with sudden high fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rashes and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

It advised pharmacists to immediately screen patients with unexplained fever for recent travel history to affected regions in East and Central Africa or possible contact with travellers from those areas within the previous 21 days.

As part of emergency infection prevention measures, the PSN directed all pharmacies to revive compulsory hand hygiene stations at their entrances using soap and running water or alcohol-based sanitisers.

It also ordered frontline pharmacy staff to wear medical masks and disposable gloves when attending to visibly ill patients, while high-touch surfaces, including dispensing counters, doors and payment terminals, must be disinfected regularly using bleach solutions or alcohol-based wipes.

The society further instructed pharmacies to temporarily suspend non-essential blood-prick tests, including random blood-sugar checks and malaria rapid diagnostic tests, for patients presenting with unexplained fever.

It also warned against dangerous self-medication practices. The PSN cautioned pharmacists against indiscriminate dispensing of antimalarials and antibiotics for persistent or unexplained fever cases.

“Do not continue empirical dispensing if a patient presents with fever that does not respond to standard therapy or is accompanied by severe gastrointestinal distress,” the advisory stated.

The society also urged pharmacists to counter misinformation and false claims about unverified herbal remedies, saltwater baths and other purported cures for Ebola.

“Early supportive care at a dedicated public health facility drastically improves survival rates,” it stressed.

The PSN outlined strict emergency procedures for handling suspected Ebola cases within pharmacy premises.

Under the protocol, pharmacists are required to isolate suspected patients immediately, avoid direct physical contact, and promptly notify public health authorities through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, emergency lines or state epidemiology officers.

“Do not advise suspected patients to use public transportation. Keep the patient isolated and comfortable until trained emergency responders arrive.”

The PSN described pharmacists as “an indispensable pillar of the healthcare delivery system”, noting that vigilance and early detection remain critical to preventing another Ebola outbreak in the country.

“Let us lead with professionalism, scientific accuracy and calm expertise,” PSN added.

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