By Salihu Tsibiri
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, has reaffirmed the House’s commitment to scrutinising inter-agency coordination, the timely release and transparent utilisation of emergency health funds to strengthen Nigeria’s response to public health emergencies.
He stated this while declaring open a one-day public hearing on the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Nigeria, organised by the House Joint Committees on Infectious Diseases, Healthcare Services, Aviation and Interior at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Represented by Hon. Billy Osawaru, the Speaker stressed the need for a coordinated national response involving all tiers of government and relevant institutions.
He said the recent Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa and the confirmation of an imported case in Nigeria underscored the importance of strengthening the country’s public health security architecture.
Dr Abbas assured that the House would give serious consideration to submissions and recommendations from the hearing and provide legislative interventions where necessary.
Earlier, Chairman of the Joint Committees, Mr Amobi Ogah, said the Ebola outbreak had generated widespread anxiety among Nigerians, prompting calls and enquiries from his constituents and fellow lawmakers about the country’s preparedness.
He explained that the concerns had prompted the House to initiate high-level consultations, culminating in the decision to organise the public hearing to assess the preparedness of critical government agencies and the measures being implemented to prevent the spread of the disease.
Mr Ogah recalled the devastating impact of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which took a physical, psychological and economic toll on the country and claimed the lives of several prominent Nigerians.
He, however, expressed optimism that reports indicating that two additional suspected cases identified in the North-East had tested negative would boost efforts to contain the disease.
In a presentation, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, said custodial centres required special attention in the country’s Ebola preparedness strategy because of their population density, shared facilities and frequent human interactions.
He warned that an outbreak in correctional facilities could have serious consequences for inmates, personnel, visitors and surrounding communities, stressing the need for early detection and effective infection prevention measures.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
