The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has unveiled its strategic roadmap for the years 2024 to 2026, aimed at addressing critical public health challenges and enhancing health promotion, disease prevention, surveillance, laboratory capacity and emergency preparedness nationwide.
Director-general of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris highlighted the significance of this roadmap in tackling current public health issues and aligning with both national and international health priorities. The roadmap emphasises collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, local and international partners, academic institutions, research organisations and the private sector.
Key objectives outlined in the roadmap include optimising existing resources, increasing government commitment to health security, and seeking additional funding through grants and donations. Idris emphasised the importance of monitoring and evaluating progress through a robust framework and institutionalising best practices to ensure the sustainability of efforts.
To engage the public effectively, the NCDC plans to utilise various communication channels to raise awareness about the roadmap and its objectives. Idris acknowledged the challenges anticipated during implementation, such as limited resources, infrastructure constraints, and logistical hurdles and outlined strategies to address them.
These strategies include strategic planning, partnership development and resource mobilisation efforts. Despite these challenges, Idris reiterated NCDC’s commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians through proactive prevention, preparedness and collaboration with stakeholders.
The NCDC remains optimistic about the successful implementation of its roadmap, which is poised to strengthen Nigeria’s public health infrastructure and enhance the country’s ability to respond effectively to current and future health threats. Through concerted efforts and sustained commitment, Nigeria can build a resilient and robust public health system capable of protecting the well-being of its citizens.
