The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has expressed concern over the confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, urging Islamic leaders to intensify public awareness and promote preventive measures across the country.
President-General of the council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made the call in a statement signed by NSCIA’s Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
Abubakar said that the move followed an announcement by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on Tuesday confirming the discovery of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after laboratory tests.
He commended the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) for their efforts towards containing the disease and preventing its spread.
He said that the confirmation of the disease required urgent collective action by government institutions, religious organisations, healthcare professionals and community leaders to prevent further transmission.
He urged Chief Imams, Islamic scholars, State Councils for Islamic Affairs and Muslim organisations to use Friday sermons, religious gatherings and community engagements to educate Nigerians about the disease and its prevention.
According to him, religious leaders have an important role to play in disseminating accurate health information because of their influence and close relationships with communities across the country.
He, however, called on the Federal and State Governments to intensify disease surveillance, contact tracing, public enlightenment and preparedness across healthcare facilities.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate protection for healthcare workers and providing timely, accurate information to the public to prevent panic and misinformation.
He pointed out that Ebola was a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of infected persons who had developed symptoms.
He added that infection could also occur through contact with contaminated materials, the bodies of people who had died from the disease and infected wild animals.
Abubakar further said that symptoms could develop between two and 21 days after exposure, with common signs including fever, severe headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
He explained that unexplained bleeding could occur in some cases, urging Nigerians to take unusual symptoms seriously and seek professional medical assessment without delay.
The president-general said that the Bundibugyo strain associated with the current outbreak has no known approved vaccine or specific curative treatment, noting that early medical intervention and supportive care could significantly improve the chances of survival.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication and seek prompt medical attention whenever they developed symptoms that could be associated with Ebola or another serious infectious disease.
He advised anyone suspected of having the infection to avoid exposing others to possible transmission and follow the instructions of healthcare professionals concerning movement, isolation and treatment.
“Chief Imams and Islamic scholars should, therefore, incorporate relevant public health messages into Friday sermons and other religious activities to ensure that worshippers understood the dangers associated with the disease.
“Persons suspected of infection should refrain from attending congregational prayers pending medical assessment to protect other worshippers and the wider community.
“Such precautionary measures are necessary to prevent avoidable transmission while ensuring that suspected cases received appropriate medical attention,” he said.
Abubakar also encouraged Muslim organisations, community leaders and State Councils for Islamic Affairs to collaborate with health authorities in reaching vulnerable populations and communities that might have limited access to reliable health information.
He assured the Federal Government of its readiness to mobilise its nationwide network of mosques, Islamic organisations and community leaders to support disease prevention and public health education.
He emphasised the importance of combining spiritual support with appropriate medical care, urging Nigerians not to regard religious faith and professional healthcare as conflicting approaches to addressing the outbreak.
“Faith, prayer and appropriate medical care are complementary rather than contradictory,” he said, urging the public to remain calm, vigilant and responsible throughout the response to the outbreak.
He equally advised Nigerians to practise regular handwashing, avoid direct contact with suspected cases and their bodily fluids, and promptly report suspected infections to the appropriate health authorities.
Abubakar urged individuals experiencing suspicious symptoms after possible exposure to avoid close contact with others and seek immediate medical guidance, while encouraging the public to cooperate with health authorities during contact tracing.
He warned against spreading unverified information or stigmatising affected individuals and their families, stressing that accurate communication, compassion and collective responsibility were essential to controlling the disease.
“May the Almighty Allah protect our nation and the people, grant healing to the afflicted, strengthen our healthcare workers and safeguard humanity from this disease,” he prayed
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