By Franca Ofili
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it is strengthening states’ capacity to respond to Ebola through continuous healthcare worker training and improved infection prevention and control measures nationwide.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said this at the agency’s Sunday news conference, where he outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen preparedness and improve the country’s response to potential Ebola threats.
Idris said the agency was conducting training and providing practical guidance to healthcare workers to improve preparedness and reduce infection risks in health facilities across the country.
He said preparedness capabilities at the subnational level varied, making continuous capacity-building essential to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to Ebola.
Idris explained that NCDC teams were visiting health facilities to assess existing infection prevention and control systems, identify gaps and provide necessary guidance to improve safety practices.
The director-general added that members of the Federal Capital Territory response team had received training on the proper use of protective equipment to strengthen ongoing Ebola response efforts.
He said training programmes would evolve as new evidence emerged, noting that regular updates were necessary to maintain healthcare workers’ competence and improve Nigeria’s readiness to manage infectious disease outbreaks.
On laboratory capacity, Idris said Nigeria had specialised facilities capable of testing for Ebola, including the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Central Public Health Laboratory in Lagos.
He explained that the laboratories possessed genomic sequencing capabilities and appropriate biosafety infrastructure, while authorities continued strengthening laboratory systems to improve preparedness for Ebola and other infectious disease threats nationwide.
The NCDC director-general said not every laboratory could safely test for Ebola, emphasising that testing must occur in facilities with appropriate biosafety standards, equipment and trained personnel.
He added that Nigeria was expanding laboratory capacity through training, equipment optimisation and collaboration with teaching hospitals and partner institutions, while strengthening genomic surveillance to support faster outbreak detection.
Idris said laboratory equipment required proper calibration and skilled personnel to ensure accurate results, adding that technical capacity and professional collaboration were essential for reliable disease diagnosis and surveillance.
Addressing healthcare worker preparedness, he said training was ongoing through online programmes and visits to health facilities, with curricula regularly updated to reflect emerging evidence and operational requirements.
He cautioned against politicising the Ebola response, insisting that public health authorities would continue providing information as investigations progressed and that unrelated government decisions should not be linked to the outbreak.
Idris said NCDC had requested funds to support states’ preparedness activities, explaining that the proposed arrangement would enable resources to reach states for necessary public health interventions.
He acknowledged concerns raised by quarantined individuals separated from their families, saying authorities were working to address their welfare needs while maintaining restrictions necessary to prevent possible disease transmission.
On airport surveillance, Idris said health declaration forms were required for travellers, while NCDC was engaging aviation authorities to address operational challenges affecting public health activities at points of entry.
He explained that the patient had reportedly arrived in Nigeria without symptoms, making immediate identification difficult, while subsequent medical consultations and reviews of her history helped authorities identify possible exposure points.
Idris said investigators were reviewing passports, travel records and other available information to establish the patient’s movements and identify potential surveillance gaps, describing the process as detailed and ongoing.
He added that authorities were working with security agencies to support investigations, noting that some travellers might conceal symptoms or use medication to suppress fever, complicating screening and case detection.
The director-general urged journalists to counter misinformation and report verified updates responsibly, assuring them that NCDC would publish information on its website and provide further updates as the situation evolved.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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