Ebonyi lawmaker urges emergency preparedness in schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities to prevent a potential Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has called for stronger Ebola surveillance, improved disease prevention and enhanced emergency response measures across Nigeria.
Ogah urged the Federal Government and relevant health authorities to strengthen preparedness in schools, hospitals, primary healthcare centres and other medical facilities to reduce the risk of Ebola transmission and protect public health.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, made the appeal in a statement following deliberations on a motion seeking improved preventive and emergency healthcare measures against Ebola. The motion was sponsored by Amobi Ogah, Chairman of the House Committee on Infectious Diseases.
Ogah urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading panic while cooperating with public health authorities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
He emphasised the importance of implementing comprehensive Ebola prevention measures in primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, primary healthcare centres and general hospitals.
According to the lawmaker, strengthening preventive measures in these institutions would help minimise transmission risks and safeguard vulnerable populations.
He also advised Nigerians to follow official health guidelines and obtain information about Ebola prevention and public health risks from credible sources, particularly the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The Ebonyi lawmaker called on federal and state health authorities to improve disease surveillance systems, screening at entry points, laboratory testing, contact tracing and rapid response mechanisms.
He noted that effective disease control requires sustained public awareness campaigns, adequate infection prevention supplies, properly equipped healthcare facilities and well-trained health professionals.
He stressed that early detection and timely intervention remain essential components of an effective response to infectious disease threats.
The lawmaker maintained that proactive prevention, coordinated action among government institutions and responsible public cooperation would be crucial to protecting lives and preventing a potential Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
He therefore called for stronger health surveillance, improved emergency preparedness and sustained collaboration among relevant authorities to ensure that the country’s healthcare system is adequately prepared to respond to emerging infectious disease threats.
Ogah further highlighted the need for sufficient funding to enable relevant health agencies to strengthen their capacity to detect and respond to potential Ebola cases.
He urged the Federal Government to coordinate efforts between public and private healthcare institutions and ensure that outstanding funds already appropriated for relevant health agencies are released promptly.
Ogah warned that delays in identifying suspected Ebola cases, isolating infected individuals and tracing their contacts could weaken containment efforts and expose more people to public health risks.
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