By Folasade Akpan
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has urged political leaders not to politicise Nigeria’s confirmed case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease.
Pate made the appeal on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, while providing an update on the imported case confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, health is a unifying issue that transcends political, ethnic and religious affiliations.
He said decisions on public health measures, including whether to modify planned large gatherings, would be based strictly on scientific evidence and expert advice rather than political considerations.
“We certainly will encourage them to not politicise a humanitarian and public health issue.
“If there is one issue that will unite Nigerians, it is health, because health has no political party, has no citizenship, has no nationality, has no tribe, no religion. It is a great unifier,” he said.
The minister described attempts by political leaders to politicise the case as unfortunate, saying such conduct fell below the standards expected of statesmen.
He said the government would continue to assess the situation and consult relevant experts before making decisions affecting public gatherings and other activities.
Pate said there was currently no indication requiring changes to planned large gatherings, including political campaigns ahead of the next elections.
“Now, this is a contained single case, and we are diligently working to ensure that it remains so.
“At this moment, there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned.
“However, if the situation changes, we’ll make a determination, we’ll consult broadly with the right experts and make that determination,” he said.
He emphasised that preventing avoidable deaths must take precedence over political interests, warning that failure to follow sound public health advice could have serious consequences.
“Whatever decisions that will be made will be purely based on public health scientific considerations, evidence, and what is considered the best interest of the Nigerian public.
“We are fortunate that this case is surviving, but any death from this outbreak, if it can be prevented, and we don’t prevent it because of a political consideration, I think we have failed in our duties as public health professionals,” he said.
Pate also urged Nigerians to resist misinformation and rely on verified information from public health authorities, warning that false claims could undermine containment efforts.
He said the confirmed case had tested positive three times, adding that the government would continue communicating verified information while respecting the patient’s confidentiality.
“The truth is, we do have a case. It has been tested three times, and those three times’ tests came back positive,” he said.
The minister urged political leaders, journalists and other public figures to exercise responsibility when communicating about the outbreak.
He warned that misinformation could discourage compliance with public health measures, including isolation and quarantine requirements, thereby increasing the risk of transmission.
Pate recalled Nigeria’s experience with resistance to polio vaccination, saying misinformation had contributed to preventable suffering before collective action helped interrupt wild poliovirus transmission.
He called on social media users to demand evidence for claims about the outbreak and consult trusted sources before sharing information.
“When somebody posts something, ask them for the evidence and use trusted sources,” he said.
The minister also urged media organisations to continue providing accurate information from expert sources, commending their handling of communication about the outbreak so far.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government remained committed to providing regular updates through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the ministry.
Pate said the federal government would continue working with state governments, the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to manage the situation.
“Let’s keep our political arguments and debates separately. Let’s deal with what is ahead of us,” he said.(NAN)
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Abiemwense Moru
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