The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has acknowledged that Nigeria is not
completely prepared for a potential Ebola outbreak but expressed confidence in
the country's ability to contain the virus should it be detected within its
borders.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos amid concerns
over Ebola cases reported in parts of East Africa, Idris said no nation can
claim absolute preparedness against infectious disease outbreaks.
“We cannot be 100 percent prepared. It is not
possible, not even America can claim that,” he said. “However, if Ebola enters
Nigeria, we have the knowledge, experience, and systems required to stop its
spread.”
The NCDC chief explained that Nigeria currently
classifies the risk of Ebola importation as high due to increasing
international travel, population movements, and the country's porous borders.
As a result, authorities have intensified surveillance and emergency
preparedness measures, particularly at airports and border entry points.
According to Idris, surveillance operations are active
at Nigeria’s five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port
Harcourt. He noted that port health officials, immigration authorities,
aviation agencies, and state governments are working together to monitor
incoming travelers.
He added that passengers arriving from countries
considered high-risk are subjected to health screenings and required to
complete health declaration forms before entering Nigeria.
“The goal is to prevent the disease from entering the
country in the first place,” he stated.
Idris also highlighted some of the challenges facing
the country's health system, including shortages of healthcare personnel and
limited laboratory capacity for Ebola testing. He noted that only a small
number of laboratories currently possess the facilities required to diagnose
the disease due to the high costs associated with equipment, maintenance, and
specialist training.
Despite these limitations, he emphasized that
infection prevention and control measures remain among the most effective tools
for combating Ebola transmission.
“If we all adopt proper hygiene and infection-control
practices, hospitals become safer for patients, healthcare workers, and the
general public,” he said.
The NCDC boss further urged journalists and members of
the public to avoid spreading misinformation that could trigger unnecessary
panic.
“When fear and doubt are allowed to spread unchecked,
they can create additional challenges during public health emergencies,” he
cautioned.
He assured Nigerians that the agency would remain
transparent about any confirmed Ebola cases, stressing that the public would be
promptly informed if the situation changed.
“We will not hide anything from Nigerians. If there is
a confirmed Ebola case, we will communicate it openly,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s successful containment of the
Ebola outbreak in 2014, Idris said the country had gained valuable experience
and lessons that continue to strengthen its response capacity.
While acknowledging existing gaps in preparedness, he
stressed that readiness for disease outbreaks is a continuous process that
requires the involvement of government institutions, healthcare professionals,
the media, and the public.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that there are
currently no confirmed Ebola cases in the country, while urging continued
vigilance.
“We are hopeful Ebola will not reach Nigeria. But if
it does, we are prepared to respond swiftly and contain it,” he said.
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