Ebola: FG Approves ₦100,000 Weekly Allowance for People Under Isolation
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved a weekly allowance of ₦100,000 for individuals placed under isolation or quarantine as part of measures to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja while briefing journalists, explaining that the financial assistance was introduced to ease the burden on people identified as contacts of the confirmed Ebola case.
According to Idris, some individuals under public health monitoring had complained about the cost of feeding, accommodation and meeting their families’ needs while complying with the restrictions.
He said the agency decided to provide financial support to ensure that those under monitoring could cooperate with health officials without suffering additional economic hardship.
“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families,” Idris said.
The NCDC chief added that the agency had approved ₦100,000 per person weekly to cover essential needs during the monitoring period.
“We are providing ₦100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,” he stated.
Idris explained that the financial intervention was not part of the initial outbreak response plan but became necessary because of the challenges faced by those under monitoring.
“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” he said.
He added that the arrangement would be reviewed as the situation develops and called on state governments to prepare to provide similar assistance during public health emergencies.
According to him, supporting people affected by infectious disease outbreaks should not be the responsibility of the FCT alone, as other states may face similar situations.
Idris stressed that state governments must make adequate financial and logistical provisions for contact tracing, isolation facilities and other emergency response activities.
The intervention comes amid intensified efforts by health authorities to prevent further transmission following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20.
At the time of the briefing, Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case, while 53 primary contacts had been identified for monitoring.
The contacts include healthcare workers, members of the patient’s household, domestic staff and personnel involved in collecting samples from the patient.
Health officials are assessing the contacts according to their levels of exposure and monitoring them for symptoms that could require further investigation.
The NCDC said individuals who develop symptoms would be assessed promptly, with testing and other necessary interventions provided where appropriate.
The agency has also established isolation arrangements for contacts who require them, while public health teams continue monitoring individuals during the 21-day incubation period following their last possible exposure.
The measures are aimed at detecting potential infections early, preventing further transmission and protecting healthcare workers and the general public.
