Health
Experts demand stronger disease surveillance to stop outbreaks
By Emem Julius
Public health experts, epidemiologists, researchers, policymakers, and development partners from across Nigeria have called for stronger disease surveillance to check public health threats as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s capacity to address emerging and re-emerging health challenges.
The charge was made during the 12th Annual National Conference of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria held on Friday in Calabar, Cross River State, with the theme, “Strengthening Epidemiological Resilience in Nigeria: Addressing Emerging and Re-emerging Health Challenges.”
The National President of the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria, Dr Matthew Ashikeni, while welcoming participants, emphasised the need to strengthen disease surveillance systems across the country to enable early detection and rapid response to public health threats, stressing that early detection helps to curb outbreaks of such diseases.
He said, “I am very pleased to welcome all of you to the 12th Annual General Meeting of our Society holding here in the beautiful city of Calabar. In our conference, we will be discussing how we can strengthen epidemiological resilience in Nigeria in view of the recurring disease outbreaks we are experiencing here and in other parts of the world to enable early detection and rapid response, because early detection and rapid response help to curb outbreaks of such diseases.”
According to him, effective epidemiological resilience requires robust surveillance mechanisms, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, continuous capacity building for health professionals, and the implementation of evidence-based health policies.
“To ascertain progress, effective epidemiological resilience requires robust and consistent surveillance mechanisms, improved sanitation, hygiene practices, continuous capacity building for health professionals, and the implementation of evidence-based health policies to ensure our societies are free from outbreaks,” he added.
He also highlighted the critical role of research institutions in generating data and scientific evidence to guide public health interventions and policy decisions, stressing that the theme of the conference is a right step in the right direction.
Ashikeni commended the Cross River State Government for its proactive support and commitment, which have contributed significantly to the successful hosting of the conference in Calabar.
Governor Bassey Otu, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, commended the Epidemiological Society of Nigeria for its continued support, partnership, and health initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Ayuk noted that Governor Bassey Otu has placed healthcare at the forefront of his administration’s development agenda through sustained investments in primary healthcare, disease surveillance, health insurance coverage, immunisation programmes, and healthcare infrastructure across the state.
“Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, in line with his People’s First Agenda, has placed healthcare at the forefront of his administration’s development agenda through sustained investments in primary healthcare, disease surveillance, health insurance coverage, immunisation programmes, and healthcare infrastructure across the state,” he said.
He further revealed that Cross River is among the few states in Nigeria successfully delivering vaccines and essential medicines to hard-to-reach communities, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in accessing quality healthcare services.
“In Cross River, we can boast of health outreach to hard-to-reach communities. This is to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind in accessing quality healthcare services. That is made possible by Governor Bassey Otu,” he emphasised.
The Commissioner also highlighted the successes recorded under the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme, describing it as a major step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and reducing the financial burden of healthcare on residents.
On her part, the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare, Dr Vivian Otu, stressed the importance of resilience, which is the central theme of the conference, noting that health systems must be capable of responding rapidly to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
She stated that Cross River State has continued to demonstrate resilience through routine disease surveillance and prompt disease investigation mechanisms, calling on development partners and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration towards building a more responsive and resilient health system.
Representing the World Health Organisation, Dr Rebecca Olatunde urged health experts and epidemiologists to sustain the advocacy for disease surveillance to ensure that public health threats and re-emerging health challenges are adequately addressed.
“Today, I want to urge all health experts and practitioners to sustain the advocacy for disease surveillance to ensure that public health threats and re-emerging health challenges are adequately addressed in our societies,” she added.
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