NCDC seeks increased state funding for Ebola prevention in Nigeria
via Punch Nigeria7 min read
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, has urged state governors to provide more funding for health workers to prevent Ebola from entering Nigeria, amidst concerns about its resurgence in other parts of Africa. Speaking at the Adetokunbo Alakija Memorial Lecture in Lagos, Dr. Idris emphasized that while the Federal Government has implemented measures like strengthened monitoring at airports and contact tracing, state governments need to enhance capacity building and funding for prevention efforts. He stressed that the NCDC cannot manage the burden alone and is engaging with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to advocate for stronger health sector support. Dr. Patrick Chukwuma, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Society of Travel Medicine, highlighted the role of travel medicine in preventing the importation of dangerous viruses. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, noted the state's vulnerability due to air travel and its collaborative preventive measures. Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, affirmed the state's readiness to prevent, detect, and respond to any potential Ebola threat, despite no reported cases in Nigeria, and called for vigilance from healthcare workers and the public.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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