By Barnabas Esiet
The Simon Health Initiative (SHIAfrica) has called for urgent and coordinated public health measures following the Federal Government’s reported confirmation of an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The organisation said the identification of 44 contacts being monitored by health authorities underscored the need for heightened vigilance, effective disease surveillance and public cooperation to prevent further transmission.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, SHIAfrica urged the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), state governments and other stakeholders to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response mechanisms.
The organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa, said Nigeria could not afford to delay action in responding to the reported case.
“We do not have the luxury of time. The confirmation of an Ebola case in Nigeria reinforces the importance of acting early rather than reacting late,” Bolarinwa said.
He called for stronger disease surveillance, adequate support for frontline health workers, expanded public education and improved emergency preparedness across all levels of government.
“The lessons of 2014 showed us that preparedness saves lives, and we must not wait for additional cases before taking decisive action,” she added.
SHIAfrica said it had been monitoring developments surrounding Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in recent weeks, while educating the public about emerging health risks and preparedness measures.
It also said it had amplified public health advisories from the NCDC on surveillance, travel screening and outbreak preparedness.
According to the organisation, the reported case reinforces the need for robust surveillance systems, effective risk communication and emergency response mechanisms, given the speed with which infectious diseases can cross international borders.
Recalling Nigeria’s experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, SHIAfrica said the country successfully contained the disease through aggressive contact tracing, rapid emergency interventions, coordinated government action and the commitment of frontline health workers.
Ebola entered Nigeria in July 2014 when an infected traveller arrived in Lagos from Liberia. The outbreak resulted in approximately 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths before it was contained.
The World Health Organisation subsequently declared Nigeria Ebola-free after the country completed the required 42-day period without recording a new case.
SHIAfrica described the response as an important demonstration of how science, preparedness and coordinated action could prevent a public health emergency from escalating into a national crisis.
The organisation also paid tribute to the late Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, whose actions during the 2014 outbreak helped prevent further transmission of the virus.
Adadevoh insisted that the infected traveller be isolated and subjected to appropriate public health interventions despite pressure to allow him to continue his journey. She later contracted Ebola and died while serving others.
SHIAfrica said her sacrifice, alongside the contributions of doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, contact tracers and other emergency personnel, remained a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting public health.
However, it noted that the 2014 outbreak exposed weaknesses in emergency preparedness, infection prevention and control, rapid case detection, healthcare worker protection and public communication.
The organisation said these lessons should inform Nigeria’s current response and future preparedness efforts.
To prevent further transmission, SHIAfrica called for intensified contact tracing and active monitoring of identified contacts and other potential exposures.
It also urged authorities to strengthen surveillance at airports, land borders, seaports and health facilities, while ensuring that frontline healthcare workers receive adequate protective equipment, training and support.
Other recommendations included improved laboratory testing, expanded isolation facilities, stronger emergency response capacity and regular, transparent updates to keep the public informed and counter misinformation.
The organisation further stressed the need for closer coordination among federal, state and local health authorities to ensure a unified national response.
It urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, rely on credible updates from health authorities and cooperate with ongoing public health measures.
SHIAfrica said it would continue to provide evidence-based health information and support public awareness efforts throughout the period.
“Confirming a single Ebola case should not cause panic, but it should call for action,” the organisation said, expressing confidence that decisive leadership, effective coordination and collective vigilance could help Nigeria prevent a wider public health emergency.
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