The N10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu to tackle Ebola in Nigeria will also be used to combat other infectious diseases, including Lassa fever, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has disclosed.
Speaking on Channels Television, Idris explained that the funding was not exclusively meant for Ebola but was designed to strengthen the country’s response to multiple endemic diseases.
“No, on the money, it’s good for people to understand why. This money was requested not only for Ebola but to address issues of control of other endemic diseases,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria was approaching the Lassa fever season, stressing that the country must remain prepared to contain different viral infections.
“Right now, Lassa fever season is coming. Lassa fever and Ebola are the same class of viruses, just like yellow fever and dengue fever. We have all diseases ongoing in this country,” Idris stated.
According to him, surveillance, disease-control measures, diagnostic testing and screening have been activated at the country’s points of entry to strengthen efforts to detect and prevent the spread of infections.
He added that the measures were requested by the health authorities and subsequently approved by Tinubu.
Addressing concerns surrounding the outbreak, the NCDC chief dismissed claims that health issues were being used for political purposes.
“I don’t want to use the wrong word again. That is totally false. We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” he said.
Asked whether the Ebola outbreak could lead to the postponement of the forthcoming general election, Idris said the decision was beyond his authority.
