Ebola: NCDC Approves ₦100,000 Weekly Support for Contacts Under Isolation

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has approved an emergency financial support of ₦100,000 per person weekly for individuals placed under isolation or quarantine as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing, explaining that the intervention was introduced to ease the financial burden on people being monitored for possible exposure to the virus.

Idris said some individuals identified as contacts had complained about the costs of feeding, accommodation and providing for their families while complying with public health monitoring arrangements.

According to him, the financial assistance is intended to ensure that those under monitoring can comply with the necessary public health measures without facing additional economic hardship.

“We are paying for their accommodation; we are paying for their feeding. Some of them are asking for a stipend to maintain their families,” the NCDC chief said.

He added that the agency had approved ₦100,000 per person weekly to support their basic needs during the period.

“We are providing ₦100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,” Idris stated.

The NCDC director-general explained that the financial arrangement was not part of the agency’s initial response plan but became necessary because of the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.

He noted that the intervention would be reviewed as the response progressed, depending on prevailing needs and developments.

“This was not planned for, but it is an emergency. We will continue to review it as we go along,” Idris said.

The measure is part of efforts to encourage cooperation with public health authorities and ensure that individuals identified as contacts can adhere to monitoring and isolation requirements without undue financial pressure.