FG gives Prof. Ugwu new appointment

The Federal Government has appointed the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, to serve on the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Prevention.

The appointment was conveyed in an official communication issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Femi Gbajabiamila, and made available to journalists in Enugu on Saturday.

Gbajabiamila, who chairs the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness, said the expertise and experience Prof. Ugwu gained during the country’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak would be valuable to ongoing national preparedness efforts.

“Prof Ugwu, you will be part of the national task force comprising committees on border management, immigration control and disease surveillance, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) providing overall technical leadership and coordination.”

Following the appointment, Ugwu accepted the responsibility and has since been inaugurated as a member of the task force at the Presidential Villa by the Chief of Staff to the President.

The appointment reflects the emphasis placed on healthcare development by the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah, particularly its commitment to excellence in the sector.

It also underscores Enugu State’s strategic importance in national disease surveillance efforts, given the presence of an international airport that receives travellers from neighbouring African countries and other parts of the world, increasing the need for vigilance against possible disease importation.