Ebola: NCDC defends patient’s evacuation, rejects claims of no confidence

 

•  Warns against politicising evacuation, false Ebola-free reports 

By Admin

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has defended the evacuation of Nigeria’s Ebola index patient to Switzerland, rejecting claims that the transfer amounted to a vote of no confidence in the country’s medical system.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a capacity-building programme for journalists on effective Ebola reporting, also dismissed concerns that the evacuation was being politicised, including allegations that the Ebola incident could be used to impose a lockdown, restrict movement or interfere with the 2027 general elections.

Idris said the index patient, who returned to Abuja from Uganda, improved clinically while in isolation and left Nigeria in a stable and conscious condition, even as he said the evacuation did not mean Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free, faulting reports that suggested otherwise.

“Within hours of WHO saying that Nigeria currently has no Ebola case, several platforms reported that Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free. It had not, WHO had to call the reports inaccurate and misleading, and a public that believes the danger is over stops washing its hands and stops calling 6232. 

“The evacuation of the patient by her own government has been presented as a vote of no confidence in Nigerian medicine, when she was largely managed by Nigerian clinicians, and this case has been dragged into politics: that it is a pretext for a lockdown, for restricting movement, or for interfering with the 2027 elections. 

“There are also persistent demands that we name the patient and her contacts. We will not. A contact who is named is a contact who hides, and a contact who hides is how an imported case becomes an outbreak.

Idris warned that premature claims that Nigeria was Ebola-free could weaken public vigilance and discourage people from observing preventive measures or contacting health authorities when symptoms developed.

“The welfare stipend of N100,000 a week that we approved for people in quarantine, so as to relief the burden of other family responsibilities those in quarantine ought to be performing but unable to for now , has been turned into a story about money sharing, as if people are being paid for Ebola. 

“The next six weeks will test the country, and how the public comes through them depends as much on what is published by the agency and the media, ” he said.

He explained that although Nigeria had no confirmed Ebola case in the country following the patient’s evacuation, 53 primary contacts remained under daily follow-up, with most in quarantine in Abuja and a few at home. Three contacts who developed symptoms had tested negative for Ebola, he confirmed.

Idris said the 42-day surveillance countdown had begun, with December 7, 2026, marking the earliest possible date for declaring the event over if no new case emerged. The World Health Organisation (WHO) would validate any such declaration, he added.

Further, he cautioned against demands for the disclosure of patients’ and contacts’ identities, saying exposure could discourage people from cooperating with health authorities and undermine contact tracing.

“A contact who is named is a contact who hides, and a contact who hides is how an imported case becomes an outbreak,” he said.

Idris, however, stressed that scrutiny of the country’s Ebola response remained legitimate, including questions about preparedness, funding and the speed of contact tracing.

“Accountability is not misinformation. The difference is that a question seeks an answer, and a rumour supplies one,” he said, pledging that the agency would provide timely, on-the-record responses to journalists’ inquiries.

He urged journalists to verify information before publication, use designated NCDC communication channels and correct false reports on the same platforms with comparable prominence.

He also called for responsible reporting that protects patients and contacts from exposure, warning against publishing their names, photographs or addresses or using language that could stigmatise quarantined families.

Reiterating key public health messages, Idris said Ebola spreads through contact with the body fluids of a sick infected person, not through the air. He added that people without symptoms were not infectious and that healthy travellers should not automatically be treated as threats.

He advised anyone who develops a fever and has a relevant travel or contact history to call the NCDC’s 6232 hotline before visiting a health facility.

“The public does not need louder headlines; it needs accurate ones, repeated by voices it trusts. Those voices are yours,” he said.

Breast Cancer: SGU advocates risk-based screening as Africa records 100,000 deaths

Dr. Tonia Frame

By Admin

As breast cancer continues to claim thousands of lives across Africa, St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, has called for a more equitable and risk-informed approach to screening, warning that age alone may not be enough to identify women who need early assessment.

The university said improving breast cancer outcomes across the continent would require more than awareness campaigns, stressing the need for earlier diagnosis, personalised risk assessment, accessible diagnostic services and timely treatment.

The call comes as estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer show that Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024, making the disease the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the region.

SGU said the figures highlight the urgent need to improve awareness of breast cancer symptoms and ensure women can access appropriate medical assessment without avoidable delays.

Dr. Tonia Frame, Assistant Professor and Director of the Global Health Unit in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at SGU, said breast cancer risk varies considerably among women, making individual assessment an important part of early detection.

“Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday, and two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles,” Frame said.

She urged women to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts and seek prompt medical evaluation for unexplained changes.

Frame noted that breast cancer often presents at a comparatively younger age among African women, while access to high-quality imaging and specialist services remains uneven across the continent.

She said screening discussions should therefore consider family history, inherited genetic susceptibility, previous breast abnormalities and other recognised risk factors to determine whether a woman needs earlier assessment, specialist referral or additional imaging.

A 2025 study involving women diagnosed with breast cancer across five sub-Saharan African countries found that 21.9 per cent of participants were diagnosed before the age of 40, underscoring the importance of recognising symptoms and seeking timely evaluation.

The World Health Organisation recommends early diagnosis and prompt evaluation of women with suspected breast cancer symptoms, while screening decisions should reflect individual risk and available resources.

Risk factors that should not be ignored

According to SGU, women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, particularly cases diagnosed at younger ages or involving multiple close relatives, may require formal risk assessment to determine whether they need earlier screening.

Women with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may also require screening before the age recommended for women at average risk.

The university identified breast density as another important consideration, explaining that dense breast tissue can make abnormalities harder to detect through mammography and is independently associated with increased breast cancer risk.

Depending on a woman's overall risk, supplementary imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging, may be considered. However, such decisions should account for the potential benefits and risks, including false-positive results and unnecessary biopsies.

Previous high-risk breast lesions, atypical biopsy results and suspicious imaging findings may also require a more individualised follow-up plan developed with a physician.

Frame said a personalised approach should not mean subjecting every woman to more tests, but identifying those most likely to benefit from earlier or more intensive assessment.

Unequal access threatens early detection

Despite growing awareness of breast cancer, access to clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, pathology services and specialist care remains a major challenge across sub-Saharan Africa.

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that only 13 per cent of women in the region had ever undergone a clinical breast examination. Uptake also varied according to education, household wealth, health insurance coverage and contact with healthcare services.

The World Health Organisation's Regional Office for Africa has similarly identified gaps in diagnostic infrastructure and shortages of specialised health personnel as barriers to effective breast cancer control.

SGU said addressing these inequalities would require stronger referral systems, better training for frontline health workers, expanded access to diagnostic imaging and pathology, and reliable follow-up for women with abnormal findings.

It also called for greater attention to disparities across socioeconomic groups and geographical locations to ensure that women in underserved communities are not left behind.

 AI offers promise, but cannot replace diagnosis

The university also highlighted the potential role of artificial intelligence in supporting breast cancer detection, particularly in settings where imaging services and specialist personnel are limited.

Depending on the technology and clinical setting, AI could assist with triage, image interpretation, prioritisation of cases and risk estimation.

However, Frame cautioned that the technology's usefulness depends on proper validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation and effective referral pathways.

“Integrating community health workers, portable AI technology and digital referral pathways within primary health care could potentially help reach women who face geographic, financial or health-system barriers,” she said.

“The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation and treatment.”

She stressed that AI-generated results should not be treated as a diagnosis, but interpreted alongside a woman's medical history, risk factors, clinical examination and appropriate imaging.

Women urged to take an active role

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues, SGU encouraged women to discuss their personal risk factors with healthcare professionals and ask when screening should begin, whether their family history warrants further assessment and whether previous breast symptoms or biopsy results require closer monitoring.

Women with dense breasts may also need to discuss how breast density affects mammography and whether additional assessment is appropriate.

The university said informed decisions should balance the benefits of early detection against unnecessary investigations, with screening plans tailored to individual risk and the services available.

It added that effective breast cancer control must extend beyond identifying possible abnormalities to ensuring that women receive timely diagnostic confirmation and treatment.

Preparing future physicians to respond to evolving healthcare needs, SGU said, remains central to its medical and public health education through international learning opportunities and clinical exposure designed to equip students to care for diverse patient populations.

The university's message is that improving breast cancer survival in Africa will depend not only on encouraging women to seek care, but also on building health systems capable of providing the right assessment, diagnosis and treatment when they do.

Nigeria could declare Ebola outbreak over by Dec 7 – Pate

By Admin

Nigeria could declare the Ebola outbreak over as early as December 7, 2026, if no further confirmed or probable cases are detected following the medical evacuation of the country’s imported index patient.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate disclosed the provisional date on Monday as health authorities intensified contact tracing, investigated suspected cases and strengthened preparedness across health facilities to prevent further spread of the Bundibugyo virus disease.

Writing on his X handle, Pate said the 42-day countdown towards declaring the outbreak over would be subject to validation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), in line with established outbreak management criteria.

The development follows the evacuation of Nigeria’s index patient to Switzerland for further medical care, a move that has heightened attention on the country’s capacity to sustain containment measures and prevent community transmission.

According to Pate “Following the imported Ebola index patient’s medical evacuation from Nigeria today, 26 October, our immediate priorities remain active monitoring of all identified contacts, prompt investigation of alerts and strengthened readiness across our health facilities.

“If no further confirmed or probable cases are detected, Nigeria could progress towards declaring this outbreak over under @WHO criteria, potentially as early as 7 December 2026. This date remains provisional, subject to @NCDCgov and WHO validating the 42-day countdown. Any further case would require a fresh countdown in accordance with those criteria,” Pate noted.

He said the proposed December 7 date is therefore not a final declaration that Nigeria is Ebola-free, but a conditional target that depends on the absence of further cases and the completion of the required surveillance period.

Further, he said., “Our teams, working with FCTA and state health authorities and our partners, remain focused on containment and preventing community transmission. 

“I ask Nigerians to remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and follow regular updates from @NCDCgov and @Fmohnigeria.”

Ebola evacuation exposes Nigeria’s response gaps, Academy warns

By Admin

The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria has warned that the medical evacuation of the country’s first imported Ebola patient to Switzerland has exposed gaps in outbreak preparedness, including delayed diagnosis, limited isolation capacity and concerns over the welfare of exposed contacts.

Disclosing this position on Monday, the Academy, while describing the evacuation as consistent in principle with international health regulations, stressed that the patient’s departure did not end Nigeria’s responsibility to contain the outbreak.

The 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman, who is married to a Swiss embassy staff member in Abuja, was evacuated by air ambulance on Monday alongside her asymptomatic husband, following approval by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

In a public health statement and advisory signed by its President, Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie; Foundation President, Professor Oladapo Ashiru; and Rapid Response Committee member, Professor Boaz Adegboro, the Academy said the evacuation was permissible under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, provided appropriate safeguards were observed.

The statement reads: “The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria (AMedS) has noted the confirmation by the
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, that
Nigeria's index case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) was medically evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland this morning, together with her asymptomatic spouse.

“The Academy's assessment is that a properly coordinated medical evacuation of a clinically stable patient to her own country of nationality, under strict biosafety
protocols and with the agreement of both governments, is permitted under the
International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and consistent with WHO practice. It also follows international precedent: in 2014 Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US received evacuated Ebola patients for care in high-level isolation units. 

“The evacuation does not, however, end Nigeria's outbreak response. The decisive work now lies with the 53 contacts under follow-up, the health workers who cared for the patient, and the gaps this case has exposed,” the statement warned.

On whether  the evacuation is consistent with international regulations, the Academy said: “Yes, in principle. The IHR (2005) does not prohibit the medical evacuation of a patient with a dangerous infectious disease. They require that any such movement be notified, coordinated between States, carried out with measures that prevent onward spread, and done with respect for the patient's dignity and rights. 

“WHO's long-standing Ebola guidance, including the 2014 temporary recommendations, advised that confirmed cases should not travel internationally except as part of an appropriate medical
evacuation. This was such an evacuation. It also follows international precedent: in 2014 Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US received evacuated Ebola patients for care in high-level isolation units. 

“To remove any doubt, the Academy asks the Federal Ministry and NCDC to publish a short account of the evacuation protocol, the WHO and Swiss coordination, and the
decontamination steps taken.”

“At departure, the Minister reported that she was stable, conscious and communicating, with laboratory parameters returning towards baseline. He cautioned that clinical improvement does not mean she is no longer infectious; NCDC reported her samples remained positive on 25 October. Her husband's samples were negative.

While accepting the legitimacy of the evacuation, the Academy warned:  “The outbreak is not over, the source case leaving the country does not reduce
the risk among the 53 contacts, who include health workers and domestic staff.
Each must complete 21 days of follow-up, and WHO requires 42 days without a
a new case before an outbreak can be declared over.”

Beyond the evacuation, the Academy raised concerns about the time taken to identify the infection. It noted that about 13 days passed between symptom onset and testing, and the patient was seen at more than one private facility. 

“This exposed health workers and shows a low index of suspicion for viral haemorrhagic fever in febrile travellers, despite a PHEIC declared in May.”

The timeline, the Academy said, highlighted the need for greater suspicion of viral haemorrhagic fevers among febrile patients with relevant travel histories, particularly during an international public health emergency.

Acknowledging the work of Nigerian doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and public health officers who cared for the patient, the statement said the evacuation underscored disparities in access to specialised treatment.

“A foreign national could be flown to a high-level isolation unit abroad; a Nigerian patient could not,” it said, calling for a healthcare system capable of providing an appropriate standard of care to everyone, regardless of nationality.”

It recommended establishing at least one high-level isolation and treatment unit in each geopolitical zone, staffed by trained personnel and supported by access to investigational therapies through WHO-coordinated clinical trials.

Among recommendations to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and NCDC, the Academy called for publication of a brief account of the evacuation: the IHR coordination with WHO and Switzerland, the transport and decontamination protocol, and the arrangements for sharing clinical and laboratory data.

“Government should ensure complete 21-day follow-up of all contacts, with daily monitoring, rapid testing of any who become ill, and fully funded welfare for those in quarantine, offer occupational health follow-up and psychosocial support to every exposed health worker.

“The government should also issue a national alert to all public and private facilities to take a travel history from every febrile patient, and to isolate and test promptly anyone linked to affected areas, and establish at least one high-level isolation and treatment unit in each geopolitical zone, with trained staff and access to investigational therapeutics through WHO-coordinated trials, secure Nigeria's share of specimens and sequence data, and support Nigerian scientists to lead the source investigation with WHO, Uganda and Kenya.

“Nigeria contained Ebola in 2014 through speed, discipline and the sacrifice of its health workers. The same qualities are needed now. The Academy stands ready to offer its Fellows' expertise in clinical care, infection control, laboratory science and public health to the national response,” the Academy stated.

Nigeria’s Ebola index case evacuated to Switzerland

By Admin 

Nigeria’s first imported Ebola case was evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland on Monday morning following significant clinical improvement, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said.

Pate disclosed this in a post on his X handle, stating that the patient was stable, conscious and communicating, with laboratory test results approaching baseline levels.

He, however, warned that the patient could still be infectious, stressing that strict safety protocols remained in place during the evacuation.

The patient’s spouse, who remains asymptomatic, accompanied her to Switzerland.

Pate commended the clinical and public health teams for their roles in the patient’s care and the evacuation, adding that further updates would be provided after the pair arrived safely at their destination.

He said public health measures to contain the virus remained in place and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on credible sources of information.

Nigeria’s first imported Ebola patient departed Abuja for Switzerland earlier on Monday in a medically coordinated evacuation approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.

In a post on his X handle, Pate said the patient, whose condition had significantly improved, was stable, conscious and communicating, with laboratory test results approaching baseline levels. He cautioned, however, that she could still be infectious, making strict infection prevention measures essential throughout the transfer.

The patient was accompanied by her spouse, who remains asymptomatic. Pate did not specify the aircraft used, the Swiss hospital receiving the patient or the detailed arrangements for the journey.

He commended the clinical team responsible for the patient’s care and public health personnel who coordinated the evacuation, saying the operation was conducted in line with appropriate public health measures. He said further updates would be issued after the pair arrived safely at their destination

Lagos children’s parliament seeks wider polio vaccination

By Admin 

The Lagos State Children’s Parliament has urged the state government and health partners to intensify polio vaccination, particularly in riverine and underserved communities, to protect children against the disease.

The call was made at the State House of Assemby during a parliamentary sitting organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development in collaboration with Save the Children International in commemoration of the  World Polio Day 2026, with the theme: “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio”

 The Speaker of the 7th Assembly of the Lagos State Children’s Parliament, Abdussalam Anjo-Oluwa Abdussalam, said the sitting aimed to strengthen efforts to sustain a polio-free Lagos by ensuring that every eligible child receives immunisation.

“We understand that Lagos State has been doing excellently well, but we want to intensify those efforts and make sure that immunisation reaches every nook and cranny of the state,” he said.

The Director of Immunisation at the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Olubunmi Akinade, said Nigeria’s removal from the list of countries endemic for wild poliovirus in 2020 did not mean the fight was over, as vaccine-derived poliovirus remained a concern.

She said vaccines were available free of charge at public primary healthcare centres, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that their children received routine immunisation from birth.

Folake Kuti of Save the Children International said the organisation’s BOOST Project, launched in 2024, focused on reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children aged zero to five years. She called for increased government funding and urged children to educate their peers and families about the importance of vaccination.

On her part, Rotarian Saudat Adenike Abdelaziz, representing the Chairman of the Nigerian National PolioPlus Committee, said the global eradication campaign had made significant progress since its launch in 1988, with Afghanistan and Pakistan remaining the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic.

She urged the young parliamentarians to take the immunisation message to their homes, schools and communities, stressing the need to sustain vaccination efforts.

“Polio anywhere is polio everywhere,” she said.

The participants emphasised that closing immunisation gaps and maintaining public awareness were essential to protecting children and preventing the resurgence of polio in Nigeria.

Beyond boreholes: Nestlé pushes sustainable water access in Ogun, Abuja

By Admin

Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment of Ogun State, as part of a broader initiative to improve access to safe water and strengthen sustainable water management.

The facilities form part of the company's Water Regeneration Project, which covers the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The programme aims to deliver 24 climate-smart boreholes, comprising eight in Agbara and 16 in Abaji.

Beyond providing water infrastructure, the initiative incorporates treatment facilities, routine water quality monitoring, rainwater harvesting systems and community-based governance structures designed to ensure the facilities remain functional and provide safe water over the long term.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Olutayo Olatunji, said the project reflected the company's commitment to improving community access to water while strengthening the resilience of local water systems.

“The Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within our wider Water Regeneration Project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping regenerate local water cycles,” Olatunji said.

He added that combining treated water infrastructure with community governance and performance monitoring would help improve access, strengthen watershed resilience and deliver lasting benefits.

“As we finalise the remaining scope, our focus remains on rigorous delivery and measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity,” he said.

The project also places emphasis on the sustainability of the facilities, with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and governance training intended to establish clear responsibilities for routine maintenance, fault reporting and water quality checks.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the long-term success of water projects depended not only on their commissioning but also on their continued ability to provide safe and reliable services.

“Commissioning a facility is only the beginning; ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success,” Utsev noted.

He welcomed the project's emphasis on governance and water stewardship, particularly the development of a governance training manual to guide water regeneration and responsible management.

Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the initiative as an example of the benefits of collaboration between the private sector, government institutions, regulators and host communities.

“This project demonstrates what strategic public-private collaboration can achieve,” Lawal said, adding that the initiative supported Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation and aligned with Nigeria's environmental priorities.

For the host community, the commissioning represents an opportunity to improve access to a resource essential to public health and household wellbeing.

The Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, who welcomed the project on behalf of the community, urged residents and traditional leaders to take responsibility for protecting the facilities.

“Safe water touches every part of our lives: the health of our children, the dignity of our homes and the hopes of our families. Today, it has come closer to all of us.“As custodians of this land, I charge our chiefs, Baales, WASH committees and every resident to treat these facilities as our own, guard them against misuse and report faults promptly ,” the monarch said.

He, however, warned that the benefits would depend on the community's willingness to protect the infrastructure, prevent misuse and report faults promptly.

Beyond infrastructure, Nestlé Nigeria said it was also working to improve public understanding of water safety through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Organisation for the Promotion of Environmental Sanitation and Water Sanitation (OPS-WASH).

The company's Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Victoria Uwadoka, said access to water must be accompanied by measures to ensure its safety and responsible use.

“Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe, it must be protected, and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly,” Uwadoka said.

The advocacy programme is intended to extend water safety awareness beyond project sites to households, schools, communities and public institutions.

Nestlé Nigeria said the Agbara commissioning was made possible through collaboration involving public authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.

With the remaining facilities in Abaji expected to be completed and handed over, the company said it would focus on delivery, transparent validation and community ownership to sustain the project's benefits.

The initiative is also intended to strengthen watershed resilience and support the company's long-term water management and business continuity objectives.