The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has approved a weekly allowance of 100,000 naira for individuals quarantined over possible exposure to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Director-General of the agency, Jide Idris, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, saying the decision followed complaints from quarantined individuals who were unable to attend to their businesses and family responsibilities.
Idris explained that the NCDC was already providing accommodation and feeding for those in designated quarantine facilities but introduced the allowance to help them meet other financial needs while in isolation.
He described the payment as an emergency measure that was not initially budgeted for, adding that the agency would continue to review the arrangement as the situation develops.
The NCDC chief also called on state governments to provide the necessary funding, facilities and other resources required to manage quarantined contacts during public health emergencies.
