Nigeria’s disease control agency has revealed that the country is not fully prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak, with current readiness standing at just 59%.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed that recent assessments exposed several gaps that still need urgent attention, especially at the nation’s airports and border entry points.
Why Authorities Are Concerned
According to the NCDC boss, one of the biggest threats is Nigeria’s porous land borders, where travellers can enter the country without passing through strict health screening measures.
While surveillance has been strengthened at international airports, health officials say monitoring people crossing into Nigeria by road remains a major challenge.
Lessons From The 2014 Ebola Scare
Dr. Idris said Nigeria is relying on lessons learned during the successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
He explained that early detection, rapid isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing, laboratory testing, and strict hygiene measures remain the most effective weapons against the deadly virus.
NCDC Expands Preparedness Efforts
To improve readiness, the NCDC says it is assessing isolation centres, strengthening laboratories, training healthcare workers, increasing stockpiles of medical supplies, and expanding public awareness campaigns nationwide.
The agency is also working with state governments to improve emergency response systems and ensure health facilities can quickly respond if a suspected case emerges.
Nigeria Facing Multiple Disease Outbreaks
The NCDC chief further disclosed that Nigeria is currently battling several disease outbreaks, including cholera and Lassa fever, while continuing efforts to prevent Ebola from entering the country.
He urged state governments to take a more active role in disease prevention, stressing that protecting public health should not be left to the Federal Government alone.
Source: Adapted from comments by NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris during an interview with ARISE News.
