The Federal Government plans to strengthen Ebola preparedness by identifying and equipping treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry following an increase in identified contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case from 44 to 53.
According to an Ebola situation report, the government is assessing isolation facilities and improving surveillance at ports of entry. It also plans to establish referral systems for suspected cases.
The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) has completed a needs assessment to improve its readiness for isolation and treatment. Meanwhile, authorities plan to assess Karu General Hospital’s infection prevention and control capacity to determine whether it can handle a surge in isolation needs.
The report listed the optimisation of treatment centres in states with designated ports of entry as a priority. It also called for referral mechanisms to ensure health workers transfer suspected cases promptly to treatment facilities.
NCDC Approves N100,000 Weekly Support
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has introduced an emergency payment of N100,000 per person weekly for people in isolation or quarantine.
NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris announced the intervention during a press briefing on Sunday. He said the agency introduced the payment after contacts raised concerns about feeding, accommodation and supporting their families.
“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 payment was not part of the original response plan. However, the agency introduced it to ease the financial burden on people complying with public health monitoring.
“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” he added.
Idris said the government was also covering accommodation and feeding costs. He noted that people under monitoring might struggle to maintain their normal work and business activities.
The NCDC chief urged state governments to prepare resources for similar emergencies. He stressed that the response should not depend solely on the Federal Capital Territory.
“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.
Contact Tracing Expands
The situation report confirmed that authorities had identified, documented and categorised 53 contacts. Health officials continue to trace and monitor people who may have encountered the confirmed patient.
Idris said 44 contacts were linked to the health facility where the patient received treatment. The remaining nine included household members and people who attended to her during an earlier emergency room visit.
The NCDC is also identifying secondary contacts to determine whether any of the people already identified may have exposed others.
“For each person, we are going to ask questions. We have to establish who they have been in contact with. If we can identify those people, they will also be monitored,” Idris said.
The agency will monitor contacts daily and assess anyone who develops symptoms. Idris also disclosed that one contact who reported feeling unwell tested negative.
However, health officials continue surveillance and follow-up activities. The NCDC has also revised its Ebola case definition to help health workers and surveillance teams identify suspected infections.
The revised criteria cover people with sudden fever and specified symptoms alongside relevant travel or epidemiological links. They also include people with unexplained bleeding and those who develop symptoms after contact with a confirmed or probable case.
The agency urged communities to report unexplained deaths and symptoms that may indicate Ebola, particularly when a person has a history of possible exposure.
Government Activates Emergency Coordination
The situation report stated that the national incident management system was active under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
Authorities have also finalised an Incident Action Plan to coordinate government agencies, healthcare facilities and response partners.
The plan prioritises collaboration across health and other relevant sectors. It also calls for stronger preparedness in high-risk states and continued implementation of response activities.
The government’s measures aim to improve early detection, isolation and referral of suspected cases while strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to a possible spread of Ebola.
