By George Omagbemi
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved emergency financial support of ₦100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed under isolation or quarantine following possible exposure to Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the arrangement during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, explaining that the decision followed complaints from some contacts about the financial difficulties associated with remaining under public health monitoring.
According to Idris, some affected individuals expressed concern about feeding their families, maintaining their households and meeting other essential expenses while complying with quarantine requirements.
“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families,” he said.
The NCDC chief explained that the additional allowance was an emergency measure that had not been included in the agency’s original response plan.
The payment is intended to reduce the financial pressure on affected individuals and encourage their cooperation with health officials conducting contact tracing and monitoring.
Following Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported Ebola case on October 20, health authorities identified 53 primary contacts for monitoring. Contacts are generally monitored for 21 days after their last possible exposure.
Being identified as an Ebola contact does not mean a person is infected. It means health authorities need to assess the individual’s exposure and monitor for possible symptoms.
Idris also urged state governments to prepare adequate funding and logistics for public health emergencies, stressing that the responsibility should not rest solely on the FCT.
The intervention highlights the importance of combining disease surveillance with practical support to protect public health.
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