The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved a weekly payment of ₦100,000 for individuals placed in isolation or quarantine as part of measures to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing in Abuja.
Idris said the decision followed concerns raised by some contacts about meeting their basic needs and supporting their families while under monitoring.
“We introduced the payment after some contacts raised concerns about feeding, accommodation and how to take care of their families while under monitoring. The support is to ease their financial burden and encourage them to cooperate with health officials,” he said.
The NCDC chief explained that the financial support was not included in the initial outbreak response plan but became necessary after the concerns were raised.
“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” he added.
Idris also urged state governments to make adequate financial and logistical provisions for public health emergencies.
He stressed that the responsibility for containing disease outbreaks should not rest solely on the FCT, calling for stronger collaboration among state governments and relevant health agencies.
The payment is intended to ease the burden on people required to remain in isolation or quarantine while health officials monitor potential exposure to the virus.
Health authorities are continuing surveillance and contact-tracing activities as part of efforts to prevent further transmission of Ebola in Nigeria.
