The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has disclosed that the N10 billion (7.5m USD) approved by President Bola Tinubu to tackle Ebola in Nigeria will also be used to combat other infectious diseases, including Lassa fever.
Speaking on Channels TV, Dr Idris explained that the funding was not exclusively meant for Ebola but was designed to strengthen the country’s response to multiple endemic diseases.
“This money was requested not only for Ebola but to address issues of control of other endemic diseases,” he said.
He warned Nigerians of the approaching the Lassa fever season, stressing that the country must remain prepared to contain different viral infections.
“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.
Asked whether the Ebola outbreak could lead to the postponement of Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections, Dr Idris responded that the health sector will not be used as political tools.
Report by Philip Effiom Ephraim
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