Buhari signs NCDC bill into law

THE President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu
Buhari, has signed the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) into law.

The new Act will establish NCDC as a full-fledged parastatal to
protect the health of Nigerians by delivering on its core functions
of preparedness, detection and response to outbreaks of infectious
diseases.

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.

In a release, Chief Executive, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu 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.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was established in
the year 2011 in response to the challenges of public health
emergencies and to enhance Nigeria’s preparedness and response to
epidemics through prevention, detection, and control of
communicable diseases. Its core mandate is to detect, investigate,
prevent and control diseases of national and international public
health importance.