The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured that Nigeria possesses the capacity to contain a potential Ebola outbreak, even as it called on the media and the public to refrain from spreading fear or panic through unverified negative narratives.
Press briefing in Lagos
Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday amid rising concerns over the Ebola outbreak in parts of East Africa, NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris stated that the country's surveillance and response systems, though not at peak readiness, remain robust enough to detect and halt transmission at an early stage.
“We cannot say we are 100 per cent prepared. No country is, not even the most advanced systems,” Idris said. “But I can assure you that we have the capacity to contain an outbreak if Ebola comes into Nigeria.”
“But let me be frank with you: if Ebola comes into Nigeria, we will stop it with the current knowledge and systems we have now.”
Risk classification and measures
The NCDC boss disclosed that Nigeria has already classified the risk of Ebola importation as high due to increasing international travel, population movement, and the country's porous borders. In response, the Federal Government has intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures nationwide, particularly at international airports and border entry points.
“For Nigeria, our main focus is on points of entry. What we have done is strengthen surveillance at these points,” he stated.
Idris revealed that surveillance systems are currently active at the country's five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt. Port Health officials, aviation agencies, immigration officers, and state governments are collaborating to monitor travelers arriving from affected countries.
He explained that passengers from high-risk countries undergo screening procedures and must complete mandatory health declaration forms before boarding flights to Nigeria.
“The idea is not to allow the disease to enter the country in the first place,” he said.
Challenges acknowledged
The NCDC Director General acknowledged major challenges confronting the country's preparedness efforts, particularly the shortage of health workers and limited laboratory capacity.
“Yes, we have a shortage of health workers. The shortage is affecting NCDC,” he admitted.
He also revealed that only a few laboratories in Nigeria currently have the capacity to test for Ebola due to the high cost of setting up and maintaining such facilities.
“The laboratories are expensive, maintaining them is expensive, and training the right personnel is also expensive. That is why the system has been tiered,” he explained.
