Ebola Alert: NANS seeks seat on Tinubu’s emergency response committee

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint student representatives to the newly formed National Ebola Emergency Response Committee. NANS argues that student inclusion is essential for curbing the spread of Ebola across tertiary institutions nationwide.

The association contends that students can bolster awareness campaigns and improve emergency response coordination on campuses.

In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Obidah David, NANS highlighted that Nigerian students constitute a large segment of the population and are well positioned to drive grassroots sensitisation and public health education.

Millions of students live and interact daily within campuses, hostels, and other learning environments, making schools pivotal centres for disease prevention efforts, the association added.

Including student representatives in the response framework, NANS said, would help ensure the effective dissemination of accurate health information and coordinated preventive campaigns across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

“Nigerian students are willing and ready to collaborate with health authorities, educational institutions and relevant stakeholders to promote awareness on preventive measures, early detection protocols and responsible health practices,” the statement read.

NANS further maintained that a more inclusive response mechanism would enhance transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s Ebola preparedness strategy.

The association pledged its support for all government initiatives aimed at safeguarding public health, while urging the Federal Government to consider its request favourably.

It emphasized that integrating student voices into the emergency response structure would strengthen national preparedness and ensure critical health messages reach millions of young Nigerians across campuses.

The appeal comes as the Federal Government intensifies surveillance and preparedness measures against a potential Ebola outbreak, with stakeholders calling for broader community participation in response planning.

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