NCDC DEFENDS N100,000 WEEKLY SUPPORT FOR EBOLA CONTACTS

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has explained why it introduced a weekly payment of ₦100,000 for people quarantined following a confirmed imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.

The agency’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the payment was a temporary emergency measure introduced on compassionate grounds, rather than an expense included in its original budget.

Speaking during a television interview on Monday night, Idris explained that those in quarantine had been separated from their families, businesses and daily routines for public health reasons.

He said authorities had a responsibility to provide accommodation and feeding, while also considering the financial difficulties their stay could create for dependants at home.

According to Idris, some contacts raised concerns about lost business income and their inability to support their families. A few threatened to leave the facility, creating concerns about possible exposure to others while monitoring was still ongoing.

The agency introduced the allowance to help ease those pressures and encourage contacts to remain in quarantine.

Idris also said state governments ordinarily bear responsibility for quarantine facilities and related support. He explained that the NCDC stepped in because the necessary assistance had not been forthcoming.

The weekly payment will be reviewed as the response progresses.

At the time of the announcement, 53 primary contacts linked to the confirmed case had been identified for monitoring.