NCDC Announces N100,000 Support for Ebola Contacts

The Nigerian government has established four conditions under which individuals affected by the Ebola outbreak may receive a weekly payment of N100,000. This emergency financial support, approved by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), is designed to assist those identified as contacts of confirmed Ebola cases with costs related to feeding, accommodation, and family maintenance during public health monitoring.

The payment is not available to all Nigerians but specifically targets those involved in the official Ebola response facing financial difficulties while complying with isolation or quarantine. Individuals must be identified through the official contact-tracing process, which includes healthcare workers, household members, and others who had contact with infected persons.

NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris announced this intervention during a briefing, stating it was necessary due to complaints about the financial burden on contacts during monitoring. The arrangement will be reviewed as the response progresses, with other states expected to provide similar support if needed.