FG Drafts Enugu Commissioner into Presidential Ebola Response Team

The Federal Government has appointed the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Prevention.

The appointment was conveyed in an official communication issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and made available to journalists at the weekend.

Gbajabiamila, who also serves as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, said Prof. Ugwu's expertise and experience in managing infectious disease outbreaks informed his selection.

According to the Chief of Staff, the Enugu health commissioner’s frontline role during Nigeria’s successful containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak would be invaluable to the national preparedness effort.

"Prof. Ugwu, you will be part of the national task force comprising committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing overall technical leadership and coordination," the letter stated.

The task force is expected to strengthen the country's preparedness framework, enhance disease surveillance systems and coordinate preventive measures against any potential Ebola outbreak.

Responding to the appointment, Prof. Ugwu accepted the responsibility and has since been inaugurated as a member of the task force at the Presidential Villa by the Chief of Staff to the President.

Enugu occupies a strategic position in the country's disease surveillance architecture due to the presence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which receives passengers from various African countries and other international destinations.

Tags: #EbolaPrevention #GeorgeUgwu #PublicHealthNigeria