Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has intensified Ebola preparedness by conducting a strategic assessment of the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Mainland Hospital, Yaba, to strengthen the state’s readiness for any potential outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced the development on Tuesday via his official X account, saying the inspection forms part of the state’s emergency preparedness strategy following the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Abayomi said the assessment was aimed at ensuring that critical infrastructure, diagnostic equipment and clinical support systems remain fully operational should an Ebola case be detected in Lagos.
“In response to the expanding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Ministry of Health (MoH) is preparing for any eventualities,” he said.
“We thoroughly inspected the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), laboratory equipment, oxygen supply infrastructure, triage and isolation areas, and external site works to ensure seamless functionality during a high-consequence outbreak,” he said.
“We identified immediate maintenance needs across key operational sections including the EOC, biobank, pharmacy, catering and drainage networks to maintain the highest standards of biosafety and patient care,” Abayomi added.
“Our commitment remains focused on fortifying Lagos State’s health security architecture and maintaining maximum operational readiness to safeguard public health,” he said.
The renewed preparedness comes as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to worsen.
Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, more than 5,600 confirmed Ebola cases and over 2,700 deaths have been recorded in the Central African nation.
Last week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for $1.1 billion in international funding to support efforts to contain the epidemic in the DRC.
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