NCDC's Jide Idris Details N10 Billion Fund for Ebola Response

Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), clarified that the N10 billion emergency intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu is not exclusively for Ebola response. Instead, it is intended to bolster Nigeria's preparedness for Ebola and other endemic diseases, such as Lassa fever.

Idris made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He noted that the funding is essential for various public health measures, including surveillance, diagnosis, and monitoring at points of entry.

The NCDC plans to use the funds for purchasing personal protective equipment, laboratory supplies, and operational needs. President Tinubu approved the funding in June, establishing a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.

As of the latest update, Nigeria has no active Ebola cases, but health authorities are still monitoring contacts related to the first imported case confirmed on 20 October.