The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional Ebola preparedness through behavioural intelligence, risk communication and cross-border collaboration.
Director-General Jide Idris stated this during the third Ebola Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE+IM) preparedness webinar for regional stakeholders and experts on Thursday.
Represented by Tochi Okwor, head of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at NCDC, Mr Idris noted that the session—hosted in collaboration with the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC)—focused on integrating behavioural intelligence into regional preparedness.
While confirming that Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, Mr Idris emphasised the nation’s commitment to sustaining this status through proactive measures, enhanced surveillance systems and coordinated cross-sectoral response mechanisms.
“Preparedness must remain a continuous process rather than an emergency response activated only after an outbreak occurs,” he said, stressing that readiness must be sustained at all times.
The country’s objective, he explained, is to prevent Ebola importation while simultaneously strengthening systems capable of rapid detection and response should a case emerge, thereby minimising potential public health risks.
Effective preparedness extends beyond laboratories, surveillance and treatment centres to encompass understanding how communities perceive risks and respond to public health messaging during outbreaks, Mr Idris noted.
Although the science of Ebola transmission is well established, misinformation, rumours and distrust continue to impede effective outbreak control in affected communities, he observed.
Behavioural intelligence enables health authorities to comprehend community concerns, identify trusted information sources and refine communication strategies that encourage positive health actions and informed decision-making, Mr Idris said.
Risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management are indispensable components of Ebola preparedness, he added, describing them as critical pillars of prevention that must be in place before any outbreak occurs.
The director-general also highlighted that Ebola preparedness demands robust regional collaboration, as viruses, people and information readily cross national borders, making coordinated action essential.
He commended the ongoing partnership with ECOWAS RCSDC and other West African nations, describing knowledge-sharing and coordinated preparedness efforts as vital to regional health security.
Mr Idris urged participants to translate lessons from the webinar into practical actions within their organisations and communities, noting that preparedness is ultimately measured by actions that strengthen public health readiness.
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Reported by NAN
