By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Recommendations have been made on how to prepare for further diseases outbreaks in Nigeria.
The suggestions became necessary because almost four years after the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, Nigeria has not strengthened its healthcare facilities in preparation for disease outbreaks.
Professor Akin Osibogun, a Professor of Community Health, related this truth at the 8th annual symposium of Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) held in Lagos recently.
Osibogun, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos expressed disappointment that federal government is yet to establish six laboratories it promised during the Ebola virus epidemic.
He declared: “We are still not prepared if Ebola should resurface.
“Following Ebola virus disease outbreak federal government said it will establish six functional laboratories. Well, I am still waiting to see it. There is a need to strengthen the health system for improved performance and response.”
At the event where he delivered the lead lecture on the topic: “Emergency Response To Disease Outbreak: The Way Forward In Nigeria,” the don also enumerated the key tasks in dealing with emerging diseases. These include surveillance at national, regional and global levels; investigation and early control measures as well as monitoring and evaluation of cases.
Osibogun suggested further actions, namely: enhancing disease reporting system, linking academic centres to local and state health authorities for regular collection, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data.
“Our health information management and reporting system is still weak,” Osibogun stated, stressing that “no law established Centre for Disease Control in Nigeria but it is functional.”
He was sad that the proportion of federal budget on health hovers between three and five per cent when 15 per cent is recommended by international authorities on health.
“There will always be disease outbreaks. Even in developed countries there are always outbreaks,’ the professor asserted. He also pointed out that countries should anticipate a mega-epidemic outbreak.
According to him, having medicines ready to tackle the emergency is what is required. “Move in vaccines to prevent mega-epidemics – that is preparedness,” the health specialist related.
He advocated provision of funding for research as an imperative action, especially for field and laboratory investigations.
Funding, he narrated, is also required for logistic support to academic centres to collaborate in surveillance and field equipment as well as in mobility for contact tracing and investigation.
Professor Osibogu summed up his opinion in this statement: “A strong health system is better able to prevent disease outbreaks and responds faster in containing outbreaks when they do occur. Investment required to strengthen the health system is only a fraction of the potential economic losses.”
The first case of Ebola virus disease was reported in Lagos, Nigeria in July 2014 following the arrival of a case from Liberia. xxx
