The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has emphasised the need for the country to remain steadfast in its journey towards transforming health security.
The director-general of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa made this statement in Abuja on July 24, 2023, during the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) meeting, where a multidisciplinary team of experts assessed the country’s preparedness and response capabilities across 19 technical areas involving different ministries, departments and agencies.
Health security in Nigeria refers to the measures and actions taken to protect the population from health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters and emergencies. Over the years, the country has faced several health security challenges, including outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, Lassa fever and cholera.
To enhance health security, the government and relevant stakeholders have implemented various strategies, such as disease surveillance and response, health emergency preparedness and response, immunisation programmes, health infrastructure development, public health education and awareness, as well as international collaboration. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including inadequate funding, weak health systems in some areas, and limited access to healthcare in remote and underserved communities. Nevertheless, the government is committed to prioritising health security and addressing these challenges to protect the population’s well-being.
Adetifa stressed the importance of collective efforts in transforming challenges into opportunities and safeguarding the health of every Nigerian. He described the JEE as an essential tool that provides an unbiased and comprehensive assessment of the nation’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to health threats. It evaluates various aspects of the health system, ranging from surveillance and laboratory systems to emergency response and risk communication. Through this process, strengths are identified and areas requiring further attention and improvement are pinpointed.
Nigeria has made significant progress in fortifying its public health security landscape through collective efforts and the unwavering commitment of the NCDC team. Strengthening disease surveillance mechanisms, bolstering laboratory infrastructure and nurturing a resilient emergency preparedness culture are some notable achievements.
However, the evaluation also highlights areas where redoubled efforts are required. Addressing these gaps proactively and urgently is crucial to ensure that no Nigerian is left vulnerable to the devastating impact of infectious diseases or any health emergency. Collaboration with national and international stakeholders is fundamental to building a robust and responsive health system that leaves no room for complacency.
Adetifa emphasised that the journey towards health security does not end with this evaluation. Instead, it marks a milestone in the unyielding pursuit of excellence in public health security. The NCDC will continue to foster innovation, harness the power of technology, and invest in the capacity of its human resources to drive sustainable change.
He called upon everyone to embrace the JEE findings with determination and enthusiasm, working together to draw inspiration from achievements and learn from challenges. The ultimate goal is to build a stronger, healthier and safer Nigeria, guided by the spirit of collaboration and compassion. Recall that the International Health Regulations (2005) legally bind all World Health Organisation (WHO) member countries to develop and maintain their capacity to prevent, detect, assess and respond to public health risks and emergencies. Nigeria conducted its first Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in June 2017 using the JEE 1.0 tool. Following the World Health Assembly’s conventional requirement for countries to conduct JEE every five years, Nigeria is now due for another evaluation.
