NAPHARM Proposes 10-point Plan To Strengthen Ebola Preparedness

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has called on the federal government to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging infectious diseases through a coordinated national epidemic-readiness framework.

The Academy said preparedness measures should be institutionalised, regularly assessed and made functional across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement signed by its President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Lere Baale, on Thursday, the Academy said Nigeria must move beyond outbreak awareness to measurable national readiness.

The call follows the Academy’s policy report, titled: “From Awareness to Readiness: Strengthening Nigeria’s Preparedness for Ebola and Emerging Infectious Disease Emergencies.”

The report draws on deliberations at its National Webinar on Ebola Preparedness held on August 20, 2026, and the work of its multidisciplinary Task Group on Ebola Virus Disease Resurgence, chaired by Prof. Fola Tayo.

Baale said Nigeria’s success in containing Ebola in 2014 should serve as a foundation for stronger preparedness rather than a reason for complacency.

“Nigeria demonstrated extraordinary leadership, professional competence and national coordination in containing Ebola in 2014. However, yesterday’s success does not automatically guarantee tomorrow’s preparedness.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the capabilities that protected Nigeria in 2014 are institutionalised, continuously strengthened and demonstrably functional across the country,” he said.

The Academy said epidemic preparedness should no longer be treated as an emergency intervention activated only when an outbreak threatens the country.

It proposed a continuous national system built around seven interconnected capabilities: anticipate, prevent, detect, respond, recover, learn and improve.

According to the Academy, the approach would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to manage Ebola, Lassa fever, cholera and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

It commended the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for existing preparedness measures, including surveillance, laboratory readiness, infection prevention and control, point-of-entry monitoring, intergovernmental coordination and public communication.

However, it said further action is needed to ensure that existing systems remained functional and effective.

Outlining the proposed 10-point plan, the Academy called for a nationwide audit of epidemic preparedness to assess surveillance systems, isolation facilities, laboratories, personnel and emergency response capabilities.

The Academy also stressed the need to protect healthcare workers to sustain an effective epidemic response.

It said doctors, pharmacists, nurses, medical laboratory professionals, community health practitioners, rehabilitation professionals and other frontline personnel should receive continuous preparedness training, appropriate protective equipment and institutional support.

According to the Academy, effective preparedness requires collaboration across professional boundaries and healthcare institutions.

It, therefore, recommended multidisciplinary readiness teams, coordinated training and periodic simulation exercises reflecting real-life outbreak scenarios.

Beyond the 10 priority actions, the Academy proposed an immediate 90-day implementation framework to support government consideration.

The proposed activities include a national functional-readiness audit, laboratory referral mapping, an inventory of emergency health commodities, a community pharmacy surveillance pilot, healthcare worker preparedness programmes and the development of a national epidemic-readiness scorecard.

Longer-term recommendations include preparedness education, stronger surveillance networks, improved supply chain visibility, One Health collaboration and annual public reporting on epidemic readiness.

The Academy said preparedness funding should be tied to measurable outcomes, verified operational capabilities and corrective action rather than procurement alone.

It expressed readiness to collaborate with the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, state health authorities, professional regulatory bodies, healthcare associations, academic institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, development partners and community organisations.