Federal Government Assures Nigerians of Capacity to Contain Ebola
The Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has assured Nigerians of the country’s readiness to respond to Ebola and contain its spread.
The Chairman of the Task Force and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance while briefing journalists after the group’s emergency meeting at the State House.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Task Force has been working behind the scenes since its inauguration in June to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response mechanisms.
Gbajabiamila explained that the early identification of the index case demonstrated the effectiveness of the surveillance systems and protocols put in place by the relevant authorities.
He noted that although the passenger initially showed no symptoms, the disease became apparent four days after the woman arrived in Abuja. He said the identification process and established health protocols helped authorities detect the case promptly.
The Task Force chairman assured Nigerians that the government would continue to strengthen existing protocols, address identified gaps and ensure stricter enforcement of public health measures.
He also appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with health authorities and comply with public health directives in the interest of collective safety.
Similarly, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, said Nigeria had competent health authorities and established surveillance systems capable of responding to emerging public health threats.
He explained that relevant institutions, including private healthcare providers, immigration, aviation, interior agencies and subnational authorities, were working together to strengthen surveillance and response efforts across the country.
According to Pate, healthcare facilities and response capabilities have been activated, while resources are being mobilised to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
He added that many states already had response plans in place, expressing confidence in the country’s capacity to manage the situation if public health guidelines were followed and response efforts sustained.
The minister further urged Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation about the disease and to rely on credible information from health authorities.
He also recalled the contributions of Nigerian public health professionals to containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak, expressing confidence that their experience, combined with current preparedness measures, would help the country respond effectively to the present threat.
The government reiterated its commitment to strengthening public health surveillance, improving coordination among relevant agencies and ensuring that necessary measures are taken to protect Nigerians from Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases.
