P<\/p>\n
By George Mgbeleke <\/p>\n
PROMINENT Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group; HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) expresses grave concern over emerging warnings from continental and global health authorities indicating a renewed and expanding Ebola threat across parts of Africa. <\/p>\n
The situation, if not urgently contained, carries significant risks for Nigeria given our population density, cross-border mobility, and historically vulnerable health surveillance systems.<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by National Coordinator Human Rights Writers Association, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko,reports from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that no fewer than ten African countries are currently assessed to be at risk of Ebola transmission due to ongoing outbreaks in Central and East Africa. The countries identified include Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia.<\/p>\n
The agency has attributed this elevated risk to a combination of factors, including high population movement across porous borders, insecurity in conflict-prone regions, and weak health infrastructure in several affected states. These conditions create fertile ground for cross-border disease transmission.<\/p>\n
This warning comes in the wake of earlier emergency declarations by the World Health Organization (WHO) which classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern due to its lethality, rapid transmission potential, and historically high fatality rates.<\/p>\n
Ebola remains one of the most dangerous viral diseases known to humanity, spreading through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and often progressing rapidly to severe hemorrhagic illness, organ failure, and death if not contained early.<\/p>\n
HURIWA\u2019S POSITION: NIGERIA CANNOT AFFORD COMPLACENCY:
\nHURIWA is alarmed that, despite these clear and credible warnings, Nigeria has yet to publicly communicate a comprehensive, structured, and visible national preparedness framework comparable to the coordinated response mechanisms effectively deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
The PROMINENT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATION HURIWA recalls that during the COVID-19 crisis, Nigeria demonstrated that coordinated federal-state collaboration, daily public briefings, and mass sensitization campaigns were essential in limiting the spread of the virus. That same urgency and transparency must now be replicated\u2014without delay.<\/p>\n
We are particularly concerned that there is currently insufficient public-facing information outlining:
\nThe Federal Government\u2019s updated Ebola preparedness strategy
\nThe level of readiness of isolation centres nationwide
\nThe state of border surveillance and screening mechanisms
\nThe deployment status of rapid response teams across states
\nThe communication strategy for rural and high-risk communities
\nSilence or ambiguity at this stage is unacceptable.<\/p>\n
URGENT CALL FOR A NATIONAL EBOLA PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PLAN:
\nHURIWA therefore calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately activate a full-scale National Ebola Prevention and Preparedness Framework coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with state governments.<\/p>\n
This framework must include:
\n1. NATIONAL AND STATE-LEVEL EMERGENCY ACTIVATION
\nEvery state must have a clearly defined Ebola response protocol, not a centralized document sitting in Abuja without implementation at the grassroots.
\n2. BORDER AND ENTRY POINT SURVEILLANCE
\nEnhanced screening must be enforced at all land borders, airports, and seaports, including surveillance for travelers from high-risk countries.
\n3. DAILY PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGNS
\nThe Federal Government must immediately launch continuous awareness programs across:
\nNational television networks
\nRadio stations in all geopolitical zones
\nCommunity broadcasting systems
\nSocial media platforms
\nThese messages must be delivered in English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and other major Nigerian languages to ensure nationwide comprehension.
\n4. HEALTH SYSTEM READINESS AND TRANSPARENCY
\nThe government must urgently disclose the readiness status of:
\nIsolation centres
\nPersonal protective equipment stockpiles
\nAmbulance and emergency response systems
\nLaboratory diagnostic capacity
\n5. FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKER PROTECTION
\nMedical personnel must be provided with adequate training, protective equipment, and risk allowances to prevent hospital-based transmission.
\n6. PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND DAILY BRIEFINGS
\nWe demand the reintroduction of structured, regular national briefings to keep citizens informed and prevent misinformation, panic, or rumor-driven anxiety.<\/p>\n
A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND HUMAN SURVIVAL:
\nEbola is not merely a medical issue; it is a national security threat, an economic disruption risk, and a humanitarian emergency in waiting. Any delay in response could result in devastating consequences for Nigeria\u2019s healthcare system and economy.
\nThe lessons of past outbreaks are clear: early detection, rapid communication, and aggressive containment save lives. Delay, denial, and silence cost lives.
\nHURIWA therefore warns that Nigeria must not wait for confirmation of local cases before acting. Prevention is always more effective\u2014and far less costly\u2014than crisis response.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION
\nHURIWA calls on all relevant authorities, including federal and state governments, health agencies, and border security institutions, to treat this warning with the urgency it deserves.
\nNigeria must move immediately from passive observation to active prevention.
\nAnything less would be a failure of leadership and a betrayal of public trust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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