The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Anambra State chapter has stepped up preparedness against the Ebola virus in the state, with members adequately mobilised.
Ndubuisi Arua, NMA Anambra State chapter, disclosed this during its 2026 Physicians Week on Wednesday in Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to him, the association is using the annual Physicians Week to start awareness campaigns, to remind members of signs and symptoms of Ebola virus, and to remain vigilant and maintain a high index of suspicion of the disease
“We are mobilising our five zonal structures of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Aguata and Ihiala against Ebola disease,” he said.
The 2026 Physicians Week, with the theme “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria”, will provide the members with an opportunity to reflect on their calling as physicians and also help them to evaluate their contributions to the evolving health landscape of Nigeria.
“We are carrying the awareness campaign through radio and television to reach the general public and all nooks and crannies of the state.
“Campaigns for proper environmental sanitation, food hygiene and personal hygiene are ongoing through NMA’s five zonal structures. This will help reach out to all the villages and hamlets in the state.
“We are also working to ensure that personal protective equipment, drugs and other consumables are made available in our hospitals, clinics and treatment centres.
We are ever ready to help the government and people of the state as a group and in our individual places of work in the fight to prevent and treat Ebola disease.”
“The association is also working to ensure personal protective equipment, drugs and other consumables are made available in the hospitals, clinics and treatment centres across the state.
“We are the frontline clinical personnel in all medical establishments in the state, so we are ever ready and prepared for any infectious disease outbreak, particularly Ebola, Arua stressed.
He emphasised that the celebration is a time to celebrate the resilience, dedication and compassion that define the medical profession, even in the face of numerous challenges confronting healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Igwebuike Onyiaorah, a professor delivering a lecture on the topic “Securing the future of medicine in Nigeria”, said the future of medicine in Nigeria is holistic, and not just about what the doctors do, but about every other person that contributes to medicine.
He urged Federal government to boost the budgetary allocation to health to 15% of the national budget as requested by the World Health Organization, “even if that cannot be achieved, we should begin to approximate that intentionally, raise it from 5% to 10% and let the money be used judiciously.
“If we are able to do that, the Nigerian person will be healthier and is only a healthy person that can improve the economy, help self and the immediate environment,” he noted.
Christopher Okonkwo, the Chief host, earlier reminded the public of the selfless services and sacrifices they make daily to protect the health of Nigerians.
