NCDC's Dr Jide Idris Introduces Ebola Support Payment

Dr Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), announced a ₦100,000 weekly support for primary contacts of a recent Ebola case in Nigeria during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today. He explained that this assistance was not originally budgeted for but was introduced on compassionate grounds due to the financial strain on individuals placed in quarantine.

Idris noted that these individuals were removed from their normal lives for public health reasons, necessitating support for their basic needs, including feeding and accommodation. Some quarantined individuals expressed concerns about their families and businesses, leading to threats of leaving the facility, which posed a public health risk.

The NCDC's intervention aims to encourage compliance with quarantine measures. Idris clarified that the responsibility for quarantine facilities typically lies with state governments, but the NCDC stepped in due to the lack of support from those governments.