FG approves N21.2m to each State for Ebola preparedness

In a bid to prevent a. Outbreak of ebola in the country, the federal government has approved the release of N21.2 million in outbreak investigation and response funds to each state of the federation to strengthen preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other public health threats.
Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako disclosed the approval in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja .
According to the statement, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Pate, approved the disbursement of 50 per cent of the State Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF) allocation.
The funds will be released through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Bako said the intervention is part of ongoing measures aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s readiness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
He added that the approval complements broader Federal Government efforts to enhance national preparedness and response capacities, including the activities of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats.
The task force, according to the statement, will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The ministry noted that although Nigeria has no confirmed case of Ebola, the government is taking proactive measures to improve preparedness across the country.
The release of the funds is expected to enable states to strengthen disease surveillance, preparedness and rapid response capabilities during public health emergencies.
Pate also directed all beneficiary states to retire both current and previously disbursed outbreak response funds within six months and ensure full compliance with financial management, reporting and accountability requirements.
“This approval reflects our commitment to both health security and accountability.
“We will continue to support states to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats while ensuring transparency in the use of public resources,” the minister said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding national health security through proactive preparedness, effective coordination and sustained investments in disease prevention, detection and response capacities nationwide.