Prof. Ojo Addresses Ebola Concerns at Health Conference

Following the first confirmed case of Ebola virus in Nigeria, experts have advised against panic, advocating for enhanced public education on preventive measures. Prof. Joshua Ojo, President of LivingScience Foundation and a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, stated that panic could exacerbate health crises.

He emphasized that Ebola is not airborne and individuals are not contagious until symptomatic, suggesting that Nigeria has the capacity to manage the disease effectively with proper education. During the 11th National Conference on Environment and Health, Ojo also called for the unbundling of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to improve its efficiency and urged the federal government to strengthen the legal framework for health agencies.

He highlighted the importance of sanitation over reliance on vaccines for disease prevention, advocating for better support for Environmental Health Officers to enhance public health.