Health
Nigeria responds with emergency funds as Ebola death toll rises in DRC
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is escalating rapidly, with 89 deaths recorded in the past week alone, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Jean Kaseya, the Director-General of the Africa CDC, warned that the latest figures have heightened concerns over growing community transmission and the limited capacity of treatment centres, many of which are operating at 95 per cent bed occupancy.
Speaking during an online media briefing, Mr Kaseya noted that health authorities must simultaneously expand treatment capacity and strengthen early case detection to curb virus transmission. “Authorities must build more treatment capacity while detecting cases sooner. Early detection prevents patients from needing hospital admission,” he said.
According to Africa CDC data, Bunia, Gwampara, Mugwalu, and Nyankunde remain the epicentres of the outbreak, while Katwa, Beni, and Butembo in North Kivu continue to record active transmission. Community spread remains a primary concern; five health zones in Ituri Province and one in North Kivu account for over 85 per cent of confirmed infections. Mr Kaseya noted that only about 30 per cent of newly confirmed cases were identified from known contacts, highlighting the difficulty of contact tracing in conflict-ridden areas.
A Growing Regional Threat
The ongoing outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, presents significant challenges, as there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for this variant.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, has warned that ongoing violence and humanitarian crises in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces are severely impeding response efforts, as health workers face insecurity and community mistrust.
The WHO, in collaboration with the Africa CDC, has requested $518 million for a joint continental preparedness and response plan. While pledges have reached $910 million, only 13 per cent has been released as actual funding, leaving a significant gap that experts warn could cause the outbreak to expand further.
Nigeria’s Response and Preparedness
Although Nigeria has recorded no confirmed case of Ebola, the federal government has intensified surveillance and emergency response measures due to the high risk of importation.
To bolster national readiness, President Bola Tinubu recently inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. The government has also authorised the release of ₦10 billion in emergency intervention funding to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical public health emergency response activities.
Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has approved the disbursement of State Outbreak Investigation and Response Funds (S-OIRF), providing ₦21.2 million to each state through the NCDC Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has directed all beneficiary states to manage these funds transparently and return them within six months.
Heightened Surveillance
The NCDC has conducted dynamic risk assessments, classifying the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as “high” due to international travel, regional population movement, and porous borders. Consequently, surveillance at airports, seaports, and land borders has been significantly tightened.
Jide Idris, the Director-General of the NCDC, emphasised that Nigeria is building on the lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola containment effort. “As I speak, there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. However, we have intensified preparedness activities nationwide to ensure Nigeria remains ready to rapidly detect, investigate, contain, and respond to any potential importation,” he said.
The NCDC has completed readiness assessments in 549 health facilities across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as evaluations of 17 designated treatment centres.
READ ALSO: DRC Ebola outbreak tops 1,000 cases as death toll reaches 277- WHO
Public Advisory
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation. The agency clarified that Ebola is not an airborne disease and urged the public to rely only on updates from official health authorities.
Citizens are advised to:
Maintain regular hand hygiene.
Avoid contact with the blood or bodily fluids of sick persons.
Refrain from handling sick or dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources.
Promptly report any unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.
For further information and technical guidance, members of the public are encouraged to visit the official ministry website: www.health.gov.ng.
The federal government has ordered the immediate implementation of measures to strengthen the protection of health workers across the country following a rise in incidents of harassment, intimidation and assault in healthcare facilities.
The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom.
The committee was set up on 19 May after an incident involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and workers of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State.
Ms Kachollom said the incident disrupted clinical services and triggered industrial action, prompting the federal government to constitute the committee to investigate the matter and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences nationwide.
She said the committee reviewed reports from Federal Tertiary Health Institutions and consulted relevant professional, regulatory, security and human rights bodies before submitting its findings to the government.
The permanent secretary said the committee found that the Uyo incident was not isolated, with 18 cases of assault, intimidation or harassment reported across federal tertiary health institutions within the preceding 12 months.
According to Ms Kachollom, the incidents involved patients, relatives, members of the public and security personnel, resulting in bodily injuries, psychological harm, damage to hospital property and service disruptions.
She added that the committee also identified poor communication, prolonged waiting times, inadequate staffing, deficient infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse of authority and absence of clear security protocols as contributory factors to the incidents.
Following receipt of the report, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, accepted the committee’s recommendations and ordered their immediate implementation with an accompanying action plan.
Mr Pate said health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe, secure and free from violence, intimidation or harassment.
He said the federal government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect the health workforce, uphold the rule of law and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised.
The minister warned that anyone who assaults, threatens, intimidates or harasses a health worker would be investigated and prosecuted where evidence warranted under applicable laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The absence of a specific law relating solely to violence against health workers would not prevent enforcement through existing criminal, civil or administrative laws, including applicable sanctions and compensation,” he said.
“Federal Tertiary Health Institutions have been directed to strengthen internal security arrangements and establish Violence Prevention Teams to improve safety within health facilities nationwide.”
The ministry said that the institutions are also expected to improve access control, surveillance systems, visitor identification procedures and security around emergency units and other sensitive service areas to safeguard healthcare delivery.
Measures
Ms Kachollom further directed every institution to designate liaison officers for engagement with law enforcement agencies and ensure security operations within hospitals do not endanger patients or interrupt essential services.
She said all incidents of assault, threats or harassment within health facilities must be promptly reported, investigated and documented, while affected workers should receive institutional support and appropriate referrals where necessary.
Hospital managements were also directed to strengthen complaint-handling procedures, improve patient communication and train staff in conflict prevention and de-escalation as part of broader workplace safety initiatives.
The permanent secretary said broader policy recommendations contained in the report would be presented to the next National Council on Health for consideration towards adopting a national framework covering federal, state and private health institutions.
READ ALSO: Cross River raises health workers’ retirement age
She added that the ministry would monitor implementation against assigned responsibilities and timelines, with periodic progress reports submitted to the Coordinating Minister to ensure effective compliance nationwide.
“The federal government affirms that no grievance, disagreement or official assignment constitutes lawful justification for violence against a health worker or interference with the delivery of healthcare,” she said.
She added that existing laws would be enforced, offenders held accountable and all lawful measures taken to secure health facilities, protect health workers and safeguard uninterrupted patient care.
(NAN)
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The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Lagos State government and GoMed Nigeria, a digital health platform, have launched a digital self-care initiative to improve access to reproductive health services for students.
According to a press release on Wednesday, the initiative will initially serve students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), providing access to free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities.
The partners noted that the platform is aimed at addressing barriers such as cost, distance, stigma, misinformation and concerns about confidentiality, which often prevent young people from accessing reproductive health services.
According to them, these barriers contribute to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections and disruptions to education among young people.
A 2025 study titled: Factors Associated with Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Utilisation Among Female Students in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution, published in the African Journal of Stability and Development, also found that the utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services among female students remained low due to structural and behavioural factors, including stigma, financial constraints, long waiting times and concerns about confidentiality
What the platform offers
Through the platform, GoMed noted that students will receive free contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health commodities provided by the Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNFPA.
They will also have access to discounted health products and discreet delivery to campuses and student hostels.
Students can also access sexual and reproductive health information through UNFPA’s SoftLife 247 and U-Plan platforms.
Through U-Plan, they can chat with qualified family planning service providers for accurate information and support, while GoMed’s registered pharmacists will provide confidential guidance on medicines and other health products.
The partners said the initiative supports UNFPA’s efforts to address the unmet need for family planning among young people by improving access to reproductive health commodities and information.
They added that it also aligns with the Lagos State government’s efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among young people while expanding access to youth-friendly health services.
More details
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of GoMed Nigeria, Anthony Edeki, said the platform was designed to bring trusted healthcare closer to students while protecting their privacy.
“Students should be able to get reliable health information and essential products without cost, distance or fear of judgement becoming barriers. This platform brings free sexual and reproductive health commodities, other affordable health products and professional guidance together, with discreet delivery directly to students on campus,” Mr Edeki said.
ALSO READ: 1 million more midwives needed to save 4 million lives yearly – UNFPA
The UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, said the partnership would help improve access to life-saving reproductive health information and commodities.
“As the UN agency mandated for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, we are committed to reducing preventable maternal deaths and addressing the unmet need for family planning, including by providing and overseeing access to life-saving commodities worldwide,” Ms Mafico said.
“Working alongside our partners, we’re helping roll out the digital Self-Care Platform so that vital, life-changing information can reach more people, more easily.
“Together, we want to empower Nigeria’s next generation to make informed health choices and achieve stronger health outcomes and a brighter future.”
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