ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assessed the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital’s preparedness to manage suspected and confirmed Ebola cases as Nigeria strengthens its response capacity amid regional outbreak concerns.
The agency announced the exercise on Wednesday through its official X account, describing it as a post-corrective action assessment designed to determine whether earlier identified issues had been addressed.
The assessment focused on the functionality of the hospital’s treatment centre, its capacity to manage cases and the adequacy of existing facilities to support an effective response if suspected or confirmed cases were reported. “The visit focused on the functionality of the treatment centre, case management capacity, and the adequacy of existing structures to support effective case management and response,” the NCDC said.
The exercise involved health partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), alongside designated hospital personnel.
The collaboration reflects the role of national and international health institutions in strengthening preparedness, improving clinical response and supporting infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities.
The NCDC said it would continue working with hospitals and its partners to ensure that response structures remained functional and that the country could coordinate an effective response to potential Ebola cases. However, the agency did not disclose the assessment’s findings, identify any remaining preparedness gaps or state whether the hospital had met all the required standards.
The assessment comes amid heightened Ebola surveillance in Nigeria. In an update published on 25 October, the NCDC said the country had confirmed one case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, with the patient receiving care in isolation. The agency also reported that 53 contacts had been identified and were being monitored.
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