The House of Representatives has called for urgent measures to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), including placing health agencies on high alert and releasing outstanding budgetary funds for emergency response.
The call followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Amobi Godwin Ogah during Wednesday’s plenary amid concerns over a reported Ebola case involving a woman who arrived in Abuja from Uganda.
The House noted that the woman tested positive for Ebola on October 20, adding that health authorities had traced 44 contacts for isolation and further testing.
Lawmakers described Ebola as a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease that requires early detection, effective infection prevention and control measures, and coordinated public health intervention to prevent further transmission.
They warned that delays in identifying suspected cases, conducting laboratory tests, isolating confirmed cases, tracing contacts and providing timely treatment could increase the risk of transmission and place additional pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
The House also expressed concern over inadequate public awareness, shortages of infection prevention and control supplies, gaps in the preparedness of healthcare workers and limited emergency response capacity.
It stressed the need for effective coordination among the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, state health ministries, port health authorities and other relevant agencies.
The lawmakers further called for stronger collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other regional and international public health institutions to ensure that Nigeria’s response is guided by current scientific evidence and international health regulations.
As part of its resolutions, the House urged the Federal Government to immediately mobilise public and private health agencies at both federal and state levels to strengthen containment measures.
It also called on the government, through the Ministry of Finance, to release all outstanding appropriated funds to relevant health agencies to enable them to effectively respond to the threat.
The House further directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC to assess the funding required to improve Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacity based on current epidemiological evidence and public health guidance.
The motion was unanimously adopted, while the House mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies and public health institutions, obtain updates on the Ebola situation and report back to lawmakers for further legislative action.
The measures are aimed at strengthening early detection, improving emergency response and preventing further transmission of the disease.
