Jonathan sets aside N1. 9bn to fight Ebola

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, as a National Emergency and has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices.

In a statement in Abuja Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the President Jonathan has also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1. 9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing,
deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities.

According to Dr Abati, in order to check the spread of the Virus, the President further called on religious leaders as well as private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.

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