Reps assess Ebola preparedness as prisons seek emergency funding

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has begun assessing the country’s preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease. Sylvester Nwakuche, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, called for dedicated emergency funding, medical equipment and improved healthcare facilities in custodial centres, which are vulnerable because of overcrowding and shared facilities. At a hearing in Abuja, he also urged that the Service be integrated into national public health response frameworks and that custodial facilities undergo regular preparedness assessments. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said a recently confirmed imported Ebola case underscored the need for continued vigilance, despite no established onward transmission.