Lagos is not waiting for Ebola to knock.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has issued a precautionary advisory to all hospitals, clinics, and medical waste handlers across the state following fresh Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks reported in parts of East Africa.
Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the directive is not because of any confirmed case — there are none in Lagos or Nigeria right now. It’s about staying ahead.
“Preparedness remains one of the most effective tools in disease prevention,” he warned.
–What LAWMA is telling hospitals to do, now–
1. Tighten infection control: Proper hand hygiene, use of PPE, safe handling of medical specimens, and strict segregation of infectious waste at source.
2. Clean up: Environmental decontamination must be reinforced across all facilities.
3. Waste handlers on alert: Transporters and treatment operators must stick to approved collection, transport, and disposal procedures for infectious waste — with full PPE at all times.
Gbadegesin stressed that medical waste management is the “frontline defence” that protects doctors, nurses, waste workers, patients, and everyone else in between.
LAWMA said it will step up monitoring, compliance checks, training, and stakeholder engagement across the state. Health facilities have also been urged to review their protocols and report any suspected cases immediately through official channels.
–Reassurance for Lagosians–
“No confirmed case of Ebola in Lagos or Nigeria,” Gbadegesin repeated. But he added that Lagos remains on high alert with “robust surveillance, preparedness, and response mechanisms” already running.
The message is simple: There’s no cause for panic, but there’s every reason to prepare.
