Ebola: NCDC Approves N100,000 Weekly Support for Contacts in Isolation

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved a weekly payment of N100,000 for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the financial support was introduced following concerns raised by some individuals under monitoring over their inability to meet basic needs while complying with isolation requirements.

According to Idris, some of those affected had expressed concerns about feeding, accommodation and providing for their families during the monitoring period.

“We introduced the payment after some contacts raised concerns about feeding, accommodation and how to take care of their families while under monitoring. The support is to ease their financial burden and encourage them to cooperate with health officials,” he said.

The NCDC chief explained that the payment was not part of the agency’s initial response plan but became necessary in response to the challenges reported by those affected.

“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” Idris added.

He also urged state governments to make adequate financial and logistical preparations for public health emergencies.

Idris stressed that the responsibility for containing disease outbreaks should not be left to the FCT alone, noting the need for coordinated action among state governments and relevant health authorities.

Nigeria is currently responding to an Ebola outbreak following the confirmation of a case in the FCT. Health authorities have intensified contact tracing, surveillance and other measures to limit the spread of the disease.