The Federal Government has pledged to support states, particularly in the South-East, to strengthen health security and improve health outcomes.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, made the pledge during a working visit to Enugu State on Tuesday.
Key Highlights
- NCDC inspected the uncompleted High Definition Molecular Laboratory at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).
- The agency assessed Ebola prevention and preparedness at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
- Enugu is among 10 states classified as having high importation risk because of international entry points.
- NCDC plans to support the state in completing at least one standard medical isolation centre.
- The agency called for stronger disease surveillance, stockpiling of essential medical supplies and improved health facility maintenance.
Idris said the visit was aimed at assessing the level of completion of the High Definition Molecular Laboratory at UNTH, as well as the state’s preparedness for Ebola and other infectious diseases.
He stressed the importance of having molecular laboratories capable of detecting pathogens, particularly viruses such as Ebola, and facilitating the rapid verification of suspected cases.
According to him, the NCDC team was informed that erosion was threatening the laboratory premises. He said the inspection would help the agency reassess the project and determine measures required for its completion.
Idris said completing the laboratory would reduce the need to transport samples to other regions for testing and verification.
He expressed concern that some states still lacked molecular laboratories, adding that establishing such facilities across the geopolitical zones would strengthen Nigeria’s health security.
The NCDC director-general also said poor maintenance of health facilities remained a major challenge. He disclosed that the agency would enter into a tripartite agreement with the Enugu State Government and UNTH to strengthen the maintenance of the laboratory and other health facilities.
On Ebola preparedness, Idris said Enugu was among 10 states designated as having a high importation risk because of international entry through Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
“As there is yet no drug or vaccine for Ebola, our best action is to prepare effectively for prevention and close all known gaps for it to be effective,” he said.
He said the NCDC would work with relevant stakeholders at the airport and within the health sector while applying all pillars of disease control.
Idris added that the Federal Government was supporting states through capacity building, technical knowledge transfer and limited funding, while the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Prevention and Preparedness had also been established.
He said he would inspect medical isolation centres across the state to identify gaps and support the completion of at least one standard isolation centre equipped with competent personnel, vehicles and essential equipment.
The NCDC boss also urged states to strengthen surveillance and preparedness for infectious diseases, noting that the country was currently responding to or working to prevent about 10 disease outbreaks.
He called on states to stockpile vaccines, drugs, medical consumables and personal protective equipment based on the diseases and outbreaks to which they are most vulnerable.
Earlier, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the state required NCDC support to strengthen health security and improve health outcomes.
Ugwu, who is a member of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Prevention and Preparedness, called for closer collaboration between the NCDC and the state Ministry of Health.
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He said Enugu needed additional manpower training, equipment and funding for surveillance programmes and field surveillance operations.
Ugwu said Governor Peter Mbah remained committed to strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
According to him, the state government has invested in 260 primary healthcare centres, 54 secondary hospitals and two tertiary hospitals, alongside the recently established Enugu International Hospital, which is intended to support medical tourism.
