Amid growing concern over recurrent infectious disease outbreaks in Nigeria, public health experts have renewed calls for strengthened infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
They stressed that such steps are urgently needed across hospitals and communities to curb the spread of Lassa fever and other deadly infections.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the third edition of the Lassa Fever Clinical Management Training, organised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), participants highlighted the theme: “IPC Considerations for Lassa Fever – What Healthcare Workers Should Know.” The session brought together clinical professionals, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts to assess current challenges and reinforce the role of IPC in combating outbreaks.
A consultant clinical microbiologist and head of the department of microbiology and immunology at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe State, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, cautioned that infectious agents – regardless of their origin within or outside hospital environments – pose a significant threat when IPC protocols are not rigorously followed. He underscored the need for regular and continuous training for healthcare workers, stating that one-time efforts are not enough to effect long-lasting behavioural change.
“Training changes our attitude and commitment to infection control. It should not be a one-off event. For sustainable results, IPC training must be continuous, practical and institutionally supported,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and called for a more reliable supply and proper use of such gear in health facilities. He explained that the presence of PPEs alone is not sufficient unless healthcare workers are fully equipped with the knowledge and motivation to use them correctly.
He noted that simple hygiene practices remain the foundation of IPC. “The most common way infections are spread in hospital settings is through contact, especially via the hands. That’s why ensuring access to proper hand hygiene facilities and encouraging their regular use are among the most effective ways to reduce transmission,” he added.
Mohammed also addressed the importance of surveillance and contact tracing in stopping the spread of Lassa fever. He explained that, because the disease is zoonotic and can be transmitted through multiple channels, the health sector alone cannot effectively tackle the issue. “We need to adopt a One Health approach that links the health, agriculture and environmental sectors. Only through multi-sectoral collaboration can we truly address the root causes and break the transmission cycle,” he said.
A consultant infectious disease specialist and head of the infectious disease treatment centre at ATBUTH, Bauchi State, Dr. Hafizah Suleiman, reinforced the urgency of consistent IPC adherence by presenting a real-life case that underscored the deadly consequences of neglect. She recounted the death of a 35-year-old laboratory scientist who contracted Lassa fever after caring for her ailing mother – who was later confirmed to be a probable Lassa fever case. According to Suleiman, the young health worker’s colleagues provided unsupervised medical care at home without observing basic IPC protocols.
“She was treated at home, surrounded by fellow healthcare professionals, yet none of them followed IPC measures. They handled contaminated materials without gloves, performed procedures without hand hygiene and disposed of biological samples improperly,” Suleiman recounted.
She described the chain of events as tragic yet preventable, citing the unsafe handling of body fluids, lack of PPE and treatment without isolation as key factors that led to the fatal outcome. She stressed that IPC should never be conditional or selective and must be applied at every level of healthcare delivery.
“Every healthcare encounter, no matter how routine it seems, must be treated as a potential exposure risk. Only then can we interrupt the chain of transmission,” she said. She urged that public health education be intensified, especially on environmental sanitation, decontamination of reusable equipment and proper use of hand hygiene practices.
Suleiman also called on institutions to integrate IPC protocols into routine operations and make them part of staff performance evaluations to reinforce compliance.
Science Nigeria reports that Lassa fever remains a major seasonal health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in high-risk states such as Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi. Despite the availability of treatment centers and increased public awareness, new cases continue to be recorded, often due to late diagnosis and weak infection control systems.
Participants at the training emphasized that infection control is not just a clinical responsibility but a public safety priority. They urged government agencies, healthcare institutions and communities to work together to build a culture of safety that extends beyond the hospital ward.
They concluded that by investing in robust IPC systems, improving healthcare worker training, and strengthening surveillance networks, Nigeria could drastically reduce the burden of Lassa fever and prevent further loss of life.
