Agartala, Nov 12 : Amid growing global concern over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, Tripura’s Health Department has conducted a comprehensive mock drill at the state-run GB Hospital here to assess preparedness for handling suspected cases of the deadly viral disease, a senior health official said on Thursday.
The exercise aimed to evaluate the hospital’s emergency response mechanism, with particular emphasis on early identification of suspected patients, immediate isolation, infection prevention and control, and implementation of appropriate clinical management protocols.
Doctors, nurses, paramedical personnel and staff from various departments participated in the simulation exercise. They were given practical training on recognising Ebola symptoms, following isolation procedures and adhering to stringent infection prevention guidelines.
Hospital authorities also assessed the readiness of emergency response systems and containment facilities to ensure that suspected patients could be managed without exposing healthcare workers and others to the risk of infection.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shivabrata Bhattacharjee, Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), said the exercise was organised to ensure that healthcare workers remained equipped to respond promptly to any potential Ebola emergency.
He stressed that early detection, timely medical intervention and effective containment were crucial in dealing with highly infectious diseases.
Bhattacharjee said Ebola was associated with a high fatality rate, making advance preparedness, regular training and strict adherence to safety protocols essential for healthcare institutions.
He clarified that no Ebola case had been reported in Tripura so far but cautioned that the possibility of an infected traveller entering the state could not be entirely ruled out given the increasing movement of people across international borders.
“Although there is no reported case in the state, we cannot afford to lower our guard,” he said, underlining the importance of maintaining vigilance across healthcare facilities.
The microbiologist also referred to reports of Ebola outbreaks in African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and said the developments necessitated precautionary measures.
Health authorities are strengthening surveillance and emergency response mechanisms to ensure that any suspected infection is detected and contained at the earliest.
Officials said such simulation exercises would be conducted as part of continued preparedness efforts to familiarise healthcare personnel with emergency protocols and strengthen the state’s capacity to deal with emerging infectious diseases.
The department aims to ensure that hospitals remain adequately prepared to respond to potential public health emergencies, they added.
