With the signing of the Bill, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, which was established in the year 2011 in response to the challenges of public health emergencies, is now a full parastatal

President Mohammadu Buhari has formally signed the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, as a demonstration of his commitment to national health security.

The new Act which will establish the NCDC as a full-fledged parastatal, will also ensure that its valuable work is sustained and supported. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the chief executive of the agency, said: “We are very grateful for Mr. President’s support in the passage of the Executive Bill. This Bill will provide Nigerians with an institute that has the capacity to ensure the country’s health security. We are also grateful to the Honourable Minister and Minister of State for Health for their support and the Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases led by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.”

With the passage of the Bill establishing Nigeria’s national public health institute, the federal government of Nigeria has shown its commitment in ensuring Nigerians are well protected from the public health threat of global emerging infectious diseases.

Since its establishment in 2011, the NCDC has demonstrated its capacity to protect the health of Nigerians by delivering on its core functions of preparedness, detection and response to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

– Nov. 13, 2018 @ 15:39 GMT |