We have capacity to contain Ebola outbreak — NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Friday said Nigeria has the capacity to contain an Ebola outbreak if it enters the country, even as it appealed to the media and members of the public not to spread fear or panic through unverified negative narratives.

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Addressing a press briefing in Lagos amid growing concerns over the Ebola outbreak in parts of East Africa, Dr Jide Idris said the country’s surveillance and response systems, though not at peak readiness, remain strong enough to detect and stop transmission early.

“We cannot say we are 100 per cent prepared. No country is, not even the most advanced systems,” Idris said. “But I can assure you that we have the capacity to contain an outbreak if Ebola comes into Nigeria.”

“But let me be frank with you: if Ebola comes into Nigeria, we will stop it with the current knowledge and systems we have now.”

The NCDC boss said Nigeria had already classified the risk of Ebola importation as high because of increasing international travel, population movement, and the country’s porous borders.

According to him, the Federal Government has intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness measures nationwide, particularly at international airports and border entry points.

“For Nigeria, our main focus is on points of entry. What we have done is strengthen surveillance at these points,” he stated.

Idris disclosed that surveillance systems are currently active at the country’s five international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, with Port Health officials, aviation agencies, immigration officers, and state governments working together to monitor travelers arriving from affected countries.

He explained that passengers from high-risk countries are subjected to screening procedures and mandatory health declaration forms before boarding flights into Nigeria.

“The idea is not to allow the disease to enter the country in the first place,” he said.

The NCDC DG, however, acknowledged major challenges confronting the country’s preparedness efforts, especially the shortage of health workers and limited laboratory capacity.

“Yes, we have a shortage of health workers. The shortage is affecting NCDC,” he admitted.

He also revealed that only a few laboratories in Nigeria currently have the capacity to test for Ebola due to the high cost of setting up and maintaining such facilities.

“The laboratories are expensive, maintaining them is expensive, and training the right personnel is also expensive. That is why the system has been tiered,” he explained.