In a press conference yesterday, Dr Adetifa, who heads the government’s primary body responsible for disease control and prevention, highlighted the importance of being prepared for potential disease outbreaks. According to Mr Idris, several of the measures required to control the diseases are similar, including surveillance, diagnosis, screening, and monitoring at points of entry.
The NCDC DG emphasized that the N10 billion emergency fund, which has been earmarked for addressing outbreaks, will be crucial in ensuring a swift and effective response to any disease threat.
The announcement comes at a time when Nigeria is still grappling with the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak, which has reportedly resulted in several deaths across the country. This allocation of funds for disease control is seen as a proactive measure to combat the ongoing threat and future disease outbreaks.
It is worth noting that the NCDC has not yet disclosed when the emergency fund will become operational. This is a critical piece of information that will be closely watched by both health professionals and the public.
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