Category: Health

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has urged all stakeholders to intensify efforts to prevent the importation of the virus into Nigeria amid outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.

The Chairman of the task force and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee.

Gbajabiamila said the immediate priority of the task force was to closely monitor the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and neighbouring countries while strengthening measures to prevent the disease from entering Nigeria.

“Our first task is to address the Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda and neighbouring countries and prevent the importation of the virus into Nigeria,” he said.

“We want to ensure that Nigeria is not caught unprepared for the task ahead. We have been down this road before and we intend to address whatever shortcomings there may have been in the past.”

According to him, the task force will serve as the principal decision-making body on matters requiring executive or presidential approval, including flight restrictions, port closures, quarantine directives and emergency funding releases.

He said the committee would coordinate Nigeria’s whole-of-government response to Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

The Chief of Staff explained that the task force would receive and review reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)-led Emergency Operations Centre and other relevant subcommittees, while escalating recommendations requiring presidential approval.

He added that the committee would oversee the implementation and funding of the National Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Response Plan.

Other responsibilities include managing Nigeria’s international obligations, coordinating public communication strategies and determining escalation measures in the event of confirmed Ebola cases in neighbouring countries or within Nigeria.

“The task force will ensure timely public messaging through the Ministry of Information and the NCDC and provide regular reports to President Bola Tinubu as may be required,” Gbajabiamila said.

He noted that the committee would review and approve subcommittee recommendations before implementation or public communication and could be dissolved or reconstituted once the threat had been contained or escalated into a full national emergency.

The task force is expected to meet every two months or as circumstances require.

Earlier, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Olajide Idris, disclosed that the agency had already activated several preparedness measures, including strengthening disease surveillance systems at international airports and other entry points.

According to him, surveillance structures have been activated at Lagos and other international airports, while coordination mechanisms have been established between airport authorities and state governments.

“The focus is to be prepared. We do not have any Ebola case in Nigeria at the moment, but we must ensure that the virus does not enter the country,” Idris said.

“However, if a case slips through, we must be fully prepared nationally to identify it quickly and respond effectively.”

He added that special attention was also being given to Nigeria’s land borders to ensure comprehensive surveillance beyond airports.

The 18-member task force is chaired by Gbajabiamila, while the NCDC Director-General (Technical) serves as Vice Chairman.

Members include the Ministers of Aviation, Interior, Finance, Information and State for Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Presidency, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and state commissioners for health from Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Enugu states.

Also represented on the committee are the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), and the DRASA Health Trust.

President Bola Tinubu recently approved the establishment of the task force and authorised the release of N10 billion to support emergency preparedness efforts against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has launched a statewide public awareness campaign tagged “Operation Lagos Bio‑Shield” to reinforce preparedness against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) amid ongoing outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa.

Announcing the initiative on Saturday, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reassured residents that “there are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos State or anywhere in Nigeria.” He explained that the campaign was not a reaction to any crisis but a proactive measure to strengthen public awareness and prevention.

“This campaign is not a response to a crisis. It is a proactive measure to strengthen public awareness, preparedness, and prevention,” Abayomi said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health through early action and strategic communication.

The Commissioner disclosed that the current outbreak in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda involves the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no widely available vaccine or specific antiviral treatment exists. He stressed that “prevention, early detection, rapid isolation, and supportive medical care remain our most effective tools.”

Abayomi clarified that Ebola is not transmitted through casual contact, but through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials of an infected person. He urged residents to rely only on verified information to avoid panic and stigma.

“As Nigeria’s commercial capital and a major regional transport hub, Lagos maintains extensive air, land, and maritime connections with the rest of Africa and the world,” he noted, adding that both federal and state authorities are strengthening surveillance and screening at all points of entry.

Over the coming weeks, the Ministry of Health will intensify public enlightenment through education campaigns on Ebola prevention, symptoms, and reporting channels across homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.

Residents returning from affected countries who develop symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding are advised to contact emergency lines while avoiding unnecessary contact with others.

Recalling Lagos’ successful containment of Ebola in 2014, Abayomi expressed confidence in the State’s readiness:

“Through strong leadership, effective surveillance, rapid response, and the collective efforts of healthcare workers and residents, our State successfully contained Ebola and protected millions of lives. Today, we remain prepared, vigilant, and committed to safeguarding the health of every Lagosian. Together, we will keep Lagos safe,” he said.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has unveiled a landmark investment-driven framework to accelerate the electrification of healthcare facilities nationwide through sustainable private sector partnerships under the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI).

Speaking at the National Healthcare Electrification Investors Matchmaking Forum in Lagos on Monday, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a major milestone in implementing resolutions from the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector.

He emphasized that reliable electricity is a critical enabler of quality healthcare delivery, powering operating theatres, vaccine cold chains, incubators, diagnostics, oxygen systems, digital health technologies, and emergency services.

Dr. Salako explained that the NPHI introduces a shift from traditional donor-funded projects to a sustainable Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model. Under this framework, specialised energy service providers will finance, deploy, operate, and maintain reliable energy systems for healthcare facilities, allowing hospitals to focus on their core mandate of delivering care.

The initiative is anchored on three pillars: blended financing, institutional readiness, and national scalability. With government commitment, development finance, climate finance, and private sector investment, the framework seeks to unlock large-scale deployment of sustainable energy solutions across Nigeria’s health sector. While the current phase focuses on federal tertiary institutions, the long-term vision extends to primary, secondary, and private facilities.

To drive implementation, the government has established a governance structure comprising an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, a 24-member Inter-Agency Technical Committee, Facility Energy Management Teams, and a dedicated Project Secretariat within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The Minister highlighted recent efforts to strengthen investment readiness, including specialised training for hospital finance directors in energy economics, project finance, and investor engagement. He commended the United Kingdom Partnership for Accelerating Climate Transitions (UK PACT) and Landell Mills International for their strategic support in developing the framework.

Addressing investors, financiers, and energy developers, Dr. Salako called for stronger collaboration: “This is the beginning of a marketplace where ideas become projects, projects become investments, and investments become reliable electricity for healthcare facilities across Nigeria.”

The Federal Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with public and private partners to sustainably power healthcare facilities and strengthen health outcomes for all Nigerians.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, alongside the immediate release of N10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against potential outbreaks.

The approval follows renewed concerns over the resurgence of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, prompting the Federal Government to intensify preventive measures aimed at safeguarding public health.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the N10 billion intervention fund will enhance the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical emergency response activities nationwide.

The newly established Presidential Task Force will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and will comprise representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as state governments.

The decision was reached following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to assess Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies to prevent the possible importation and spread of Ebola into the country.

Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government, and other key stakeholders.

As part of the government’s preparedness strategy, President Tinubu directed all states hosting international airports and border corridors, alongside relevant MDAs, to submit detailed preparedness plans, funding requirements, and intervention needs for coordinated implementation.

The President also approved a series of immediate public health measures to strengthen surveillance and response mechanisms at points of entry.

These include intensified passenger screening at all international airports, enhanced temperature monitoring, improved crowd-control procedures, and increased surveillance of passengers arriving through identified high-risk routes.

Airlines identified for enhanced monitoring include Air Uganda, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.

The Task Force has also been directed to immediately activate referral and isolation centres at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja, with similar facilities to be established at other airports across the country.

Other measures approved by the government include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers arriving from or transiting through designated high-risk countries.

The government also ordered the routine disinfection of departure halls, cargo facilities, baggage handling areas, and other airport infrastructure as precautionary measures against disease transmission.

President Tinubu further directed the advisory group to engage security agencies, diplomatic missions, and aviation authorities to review and implement additional safeguards for flights originating from affected countries.

The Task Force is expected to consider the designation of specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to facilitate controlled screening, monitoring, and isolation procedures where necessary.

It will also assess the possibility of adjusting flight schedules to minimise contact between passengers arriving from high-risk destinations and other travellers.

The Federal Government said the measures are part of a broader strategy to protect Nigerians from emerging public health threats and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond swiftly to disease outbreaks.

Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, a response that received international recognition and remains a reference point in the country’s public health emergency management efforts.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has urged husbands to play a more active role in supporting their wives during pregnancy, stressing that maternal health is not solely a woman’s responsibility.

The agency made the call in a statement on Monday, encouraging expectant fathers to participate actively in antenatal care and pregnancy-related activities.

“Fathers-to-be, your role begins long before delivery,” the agency said.

“By attending antenatal care visits with your partner, you help create a supportive environment for a healthy pregnancy and a safe childbirth experience.”

The NPHCDA advised men to be present, informed and supportive throughout the pregnancy period, noting that their involvement can contribute significantly to the well-being of both mother and child.

According to maternal health experts, husbands can support their wives during pregnancy by being emotionally available, physically helpful and actively involved throughout the journey. It said sharing responsibilities, showing patience and listening attentively can help pregnant women feel cared for and less burdened.

Pregnancy often brings significant physical and emotional changes, making emotional support from spouses particularly important. Husbands are encouraged to regularly check on their wives, listen without judgment, offer reassurance and demonstrate affection to help them feel secure and loved.

The NPHCDA also urged couples to attend antenatal classes and medical appointments together, noting that such participation reflects commitment and teamwork while helping fathers better understand the different stages of pregnancy and the needs of their partners.

According to health experts, emotional support can reduce stress levels and may help lower the risk of postpartum depression. Beyond emotional care, there is also the importance of practical assistance at home, such as with household chores, preparing healthy meals, encouraging adequate rest and providing assistance with daily activities that may become difficult during pregnancy.

Other simple activities, such as taking walks together, offering safe massages to ease discomfort and promoting healthy lifestyles by avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, are also recommended

The NPHCDA noted that supporting a partner’s birth plan, helping with hospital preparations and bonding with the unborn child through reading, talking or singing can strengthen family relationships ahead of childbirth.

According to the agency, these actions not only make pregnancy more comfortable for expectant mothers but also help couples build stronger emotional connections as they prepare for parenthood.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to promoting maternal and child health through community-based healthcare initiatives and public awareness campaigns across the country.