The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved emergency financial support of N100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing on Sunday, explaining that the intervention was introduced after some contacts raised concerns about the cost of feeding, accommodation and maintaining their families while undergoing public health monitoring.
According to Idris, the financial assistance is intended to help affected individuals comply with isolation and monitoring arrangements without facing additional financial hardship.
“We are providing N100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,” Idris said.
He explained that the measure was not part of the agency’s original plan but became necessary as an emergency response to the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” he added.
NCDC Calls on States to Prepare for Ebola Emergencies
Idris stressed that the responsibility for supporting people affected by public health emergencies should not rest solely on the FCT administration.
He said other state governments must be prepared to provide the financial resources, logistics and materials needed for contact tracing, isolation and other outbreak response activities if similar situations arise in their jurisdictions.
“This is not the responsibility of the FCT alone. What we have to do for the FCT, we have to do for any other state, just in case,” he said.
The NCDC chief noted that adequate planning and cooperation among federal and state authorities would be essential to managing the outbreak and preventing further transmission.
Nigeria Records One Confirmed Ebola Case
At the time of the briefing, Nigeria had recorded one confirmed Ebola case, with 53 primary contacts identified for monitoring, according to Idris.
The contacts include healthcare workers, household members, domestic staff and personnel involved in collecting samples from the patient.
Public health teams are categorising the contacts according to their level of exposure and monitoring them for symptoms. Anyone who develops symptoms is expected to undergo further assessment and testing.
The NCDC has also established isolation arrangements for contacts who require them. Monitoring is being conducted throughout the 21-day incubation period following their last possible exposure.
Idris disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell had tested negative, while surveillance and follow-up activities continued.
Details of the Imported Ebola Case in Abuja
The confirmed case involves a woman who travelled to Nigeria from Uganda and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
According to the information provided by health authorities, she developed symptoms on October 7, sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11 and was confirmed positive on October 20.
The World Health Organisation has identified the infection as an imported case, with investigations continuing to establish the likely source of exposure.
The regional outbreak has also affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya, highlighting the importance of cross-border surveillance, early detection and prompt identification of people who may have been exposed.
NCDC Strengthens Infection Prevention Measures
As part of its response, the NCDC is strengthening infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities.
The agency is also training personnel and supporting the availability of protective equipment and laboratory supplies required for safe patient management, testing and outbreak investigation.
Idris said Nigeria was drawing on lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when coordinated case identification, contact tracing, isolation and public health interventions helped the country contain the disease.
He emphasised that the current response would require cooperation among government agencies, healthcare workers, people identified as contacts and the general public.
NCDC Urges Nigerians to Avoid Ebola Misinformation
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to rely on verified information, avoid spreading rumours and cooperate with public health officials conducting contact tracing and monitoring.
People identified as contacts should follow instructions from health authorities and report symptoms promptly rather than avoiding monitoring arrangements.
The agency’s response includes surveillance, testing, isolation where necessary and public health coordination aimed at preventing further transmission.
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