The Federal Government has restated its commitment to enhance Nigeria’s preparedness against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats through improved coordination, surveillance and public communication.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the commitment at the first meeting of the Communications Sub-Committee of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats in Abuja.
Idris said effective communication is still one of the most important tools the country has to prevent disease outbreaks and protect public health, and stressed the importance of timely and credible information to counter misinformation.
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“Communication is one of the most powerful tools in the management of public health emergencies. “Accurate, timely and science-based information saves lives, while misinformation and rumours can undermine public confidence and hinder effective response,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has said the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that all official information relating to Ebola and other infectious diseases are coordinated and based on scientific evidence provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
“Our responsibility is to ensure government speaks with one clear and coordinated voice, under the guidance of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the country’s technical authority on disease prevention and control,” Idris said.
He said the decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish the Presidential Task Force was a reflection of the administration’s commitment to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond swiftly to possible public health emergencies.
“It’s always better to take the pre-emptive action before a crisis occurs,” he added.
The minister said the Communications Sub-Committee would immediately begin work on a harmonised national risk communication strategy to ensure that Nigerians get consistent, transparent and accessible public health information.
The strategy would include standard health messages, frequently asked questions, rapid response mechanisms to counter misinformation, translation of communication materials into major Nigerian languages and sustained engagement with the media, communities and other stakeholders, he said.
“Our mandate is more than just writing press statements. “We must develop a comprehensive national risk communication strategy that is proactive, transparent and accessible to all Nigerians, irrespective of language or location,” Idris said.
He praised the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for its nationwide public awareness campaigns using health messages approved by the NCDC, adding that the agency is a key partner in promoting grassroots awareness.
The minister also called for increased collaboration between government institutions, the media, digital platforms, traditional and religious leaders, schools, transport unions, market associations, youth and women’s groups and civil society organisations to ensure effective dissemination of accurate health information.
There is no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country presently, Idris assured Nigerians, calling on the public to stay calm and observe preventive health measures.
“There is no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, there is no cause for panic. “The government is well prepared and vigilant and Nigerians should rely only on verified information from official government sources,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo underscores the need to maintain high levels of preparedness, adding that Nigeria has enhanced surveillance at its borders and placed health facilities on alert to prevent possible importation of the virus.
The minister recalled the successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria in 2014, saying the achievement showed the value of strong leadership, coordinated response, effective surveillance and sustained public communication in health emergencies.
Idris expressed confidence that the Presidential Task Force, working in close collaboration with the NCDC and other relevant stakeholders, would further strengthen the country’s preparedness and also reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s ability to respond effectively to future disease outbreaks.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris chairs the Presidential Task Force’s Communications, Diplomacy and International Engagement Sub-Committee with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, as the Deputy Chairman.
The committee also has Dr. Suleiman Haruna, Director of Press Relations and Protocol, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.