By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for sustained legislative support to strengthen disease surveillance, prevention and control across the country.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Olajide Idris, made the call on Tuesday at a one-day public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Infectious Diseases, Healthcare Services, Aviation and Interior in Abuja.
The hearing focused on the need for the executive arm to strengthen preventive and emergency medical measures against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.
Idris commended the establishment of a Presidential Task Force and the swift response of government agencies and other stakeholders to the recent Ebola threat.
He stressed the need for continued legislative support to sustain the country’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.
Declaring the hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said public health security is inseparable from national security.
Abbas, represented by Billy Osawaru, said an outbreak originating outside Nigeria could quickly become a national concern in an increasingly interconnected world.
He noted that Nigeria has activated emergency response mechanisms, strengthened surveillance and contact tracing, and intensified preventive measures following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case.
The Speaker said the establishment of a Presidential Task Force and approval of emergency funding demonstrated the government’s commitment to containing the threat.
However, he warned against complacency, saying the absence of active Ebola cases should not weaken the country’s preparedness for future outbreaks.
Abbas urged lawmakers and relevant agencies to assess the capacity of disease surveillance systems, laboratories, isolation facilities and emergency response infrastructure.
He also called for adequate protective equipment and training for healthcare workers, stronger screening at ports of entry and improved coordination among government agencies.
Chairman of the Joint Committee, Amobi Ogah, said the hearing was organised to obtain answers from the executive on measures taken to prevent the spread of Ebola and projections for future emergencies.
Ogah said the committees are particularly interested in screening arrangements at airports, given the risk of infectious diseases entering the country through international travel.
Meanwhile, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, said the service is ready to work with relevant stakeholders to prevent and contain Ebola.
