By
Annabel Nwachukwu
The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.
The reassurance follows recent reports of Ebola outbreaks in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
A statement by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, on Wednesday said Nigeria is closely monitoring the situation through the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Port Health Services, and other relevant agencies.
He explained that the monitoring is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization and regional health authorities.
Professor Pate stated that although no case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the Federal Government has activated enhanced preparedness measures to strengthen surveillance, early detection, and rapid response systems.
He noted that steps already taken include improved nationwide surveillance, strengthened screening and health declaration protocols at points of entry, increased coordination with state ministries of health, improved laboratory preparedness, and reinforcement of infection prevention and control measures in health facilities.
The Minister also said public awareness campaigns and community engagement activities have been intensified to ensure Nigerians are well informed.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation, while encouraging the public to continue observing preventive measures such as regular handwashing and avoiding contact with bodily fluids of persons showing symptoms of illness.
The Minister advised citizens to report any unusual illness to the nearest health facility without delay.
Healthcare workers were also urged to maintain a high level of alertness, adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols, isolate suspected cases promptly, and report through appropriate public health channels.
Professor Pate reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting public health and maintaining national health security, assuring that Nigerians will continue to receive timely updates as necessary.
