Beneficiary states are expected to utilise the funds strictly for approved activities and comply fully with all reporting and retirement requirements.
The Nigerian government has approved the release of emergency preparedness funds to states across the country as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria's readiness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.
The approval, announced in a statement signed by Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako and released on Saturday, authorises the disbursement of State Outbreak Investigation and Response Funds (S-OIRF) to support outbreak preparedness and response activities nationwide.
According to the statement, the intervention complements broader Federal Government initiatives aimed at enhancing national preparedness and response capacities, including the work of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The approval was granted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who authorised the release of 50 per cent of the S-OIRF allocation, amounting to ₦21.2million per state, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
