The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s health emergency preparedness and response following the confirmation of the country’s first Ebola case.
As part of efforts to strengthen the national response, the organisation announced the donation of 20,000 non-contact infrared thermometers and 1,200 bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitiser to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The Director-General of WAHO, Prof. Palokinam Pitche, gave the assurance when he led a delegation to the NCDC headquarters in Abuja on 2nd November 2026. The delegation included Dr. Mamadou Diarrassouba, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RSCDC), and Prof. Joseph Olorunda, Acting Director of Public Health and Research at WAHO.
The meeting brought together officials from the NCDC, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to align regional and international support with Nigeria’s national priorities and avoid duplication of efforts.
Welcoming the delegation, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris expressed appreciation for WAHO’s continued backing, stressing that effective management of public health emergencies requires sustained collaboration across national and regional institutions.
