By John Odhe, YENAGOA
Nigerians are expressing mixed feelings about the funds approved by the federal government to prepare for and prevent possible outbreak of Ebola disease in the country.
The president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved an emergency intervention fund of ₦10 billion to strengthen the country’s preparedness against a potential Ebola outbreak.
The money aims to protect national health borders in response to renewed Ebola cases reported in parts of Central and East Africa.
The funding, which includes the creation of a Presidential Task Force, follows recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Many Nigerians view the proactive funding and heightened border surveillance as a necessary step to prevent a repeat of the devastating 2014 Ebola crisis. They believe the government is doing the right thing by prioritizing prevention.
On the other hand, a large chunk of the public remains cynical about the government’s seriousness. People online are questioning whether the money will truly be used to equip health facilities and train personnel, or if it will be lost to corruption which has become endemic in the country.
Nigerians continue to express doubts about the overall strength of the country’s healthcare system. This concern is amplified by recent warnings from the House of Representatives regarding the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and its struggles with operational funding.
Some concerned citizens in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State are worried that the good intention of the federal government may end up as a source of brisk wealth for corrupt elements opportune to have access to public funds.
Mr. Christian Egba, a social commentator, wants government to put an eye on the funds to enable it meet the purpose for which it was released.
“In Nigeria, people don’t care whether it involves life or death, all they want is to make money at all cost. Ebola is a deadly disease that must not be treated with kid gloves.
“Even though we have not recorded any case in Nigeria, prevention is better than cure. I know what Ebola did to us in 2014. We don’t want a repeat on that,” Egba stated.
