The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has emphasised that infection prevention and control (IPC) is the cornerstone of public health and essential for a resilient health system.
Director-general of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris stressed this during an inauguration ceremony on Monday in Abuja.
Science Nigeria reports that IPC is a practical, evidence-based approach aimed at preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infectionsIdris explained that IPC serves as the first line of defense against the spread of infectious diseases, safeguarding patients, healthcare workers and the broader community. It is crucial to the provision of high-quality, safe healthcare and lies at the core of health emergency preparedness and response.
“Over the last decade, Nigeria has faced significant outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, cholera and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have highlighted the rapid spread of infections through communities and healthcare settings, exposing gaps in IPC programmes and underscoring the necessity for comprehensive infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategies,” Idris stated.
Globally, out of every 100 hospitalised patients, seven will acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), with the risk being up to 20 times higher in settings like Nigeria. The more ill and fragile patients become, the higher the risk of these hospital-acquired infections and their potentially deadly consequences. “Death rates,” he said, “can increase two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials. IPC offers a proven solution to mitigate this harm, avoiding incalculable suffering and costs to people and the health system. Compelling evidence shows that up to 70 per cent of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented by implementing effective IPC interventions,” he said.
Investing in IPC is one of the most cost-effective measures available. “For instance, improving hand hygiene in healthcare settings can more than halve the risk of dying from infections with resistant pathogens and decrease long-term complications and health burdens by at least 40 per cent. Every dollar invested in improving hand hygiene can save about 16.50 dollars in reduced healthcare expenditure,” the director-general noted.
Over the years, the National IPC programs at NCDC, through initiatives like The Turn Nigeria Orange Programme, have reflected the central role of IPC through various strategies and achievements. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria demonstrated leadership in IPC by co-chairing the African Task Force for Coronavirus (AFTCOR) IPC Technical Working Group and leading the multi-agency, multisector IPC pillar of Nigeria’s COVID-19 Presidential Task Force (PTF), contributing significantly towards bringing the pandemic under control,” he said.
As the country inaugurated the National IPC Technical Working Group, it reaffirmed its commitment to infection prevention and control. “IPC is recognized as a critical foundation for a resilient health system that delivers quality care for all. By prioritizing IPC, Nigeria is investing in the health and well-being of its people, ensuring that health systems can withstand any challenge. Together, the country aims to build a future where healthcare-associated infections are minimized, antimicrobial resistance is curbed, and health systems are robust and resilient, creating a culture of safety and excellence in healthcare where every patient, healthcare worker, and community member is protected,” Idris emphasised.
The WHO country representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo highlighted that this marked a significant milestone for advancing health security and improving the quality of the health system in alignment with international health regulations and global strategies. Mulombo emphasised the critical role of IPC in addressing outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19 and the necessity of strengthening health systems.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria with technical assistance and funding for implementing IPC measures. This collaboration aims to create a safer healthcare environment, ultimately advancing towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage and ensuring that the health system is prepared to meet any future challenges.
