By Hassan Zaggi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised the federal government of Nigeria to pay greater attention towards addressing the root cause of emerging diseases so as to nip them in the bud.
The WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, gave the advice at the 3rd Nigeria Health Watch Prevent Epidemics Journalism Awards tagged “Celebrating Media Excellence for Epidemic Preparedness and Response,” in Abuja, weekend.
He disclosed that there is no single pathway to epidemic prevention, noting that all countries must find their way in the context of their own social, political and economic circumstances.
Represented by the WHO Medical Officer (Emergency Programming and Response), Dr Victor Tugumizemu, the Country Representative stressed that there must be a political commitment to building a strong health system based on primary care, with an emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion.
Such health systems, he noted, do not only provide the best health outcomes, but they are also the best defence against outbreaks and other health emergencies.
He disclosed that the recent COVID- 19 pandemic and other emerging diseases, such as Lassa Fever and Cholera among others have revealed the gaps in the epidemic preparedness of many countries, including Nigeria, warning that, if left unchecked, it can result in terrible danger.
“WHO Member States face increasing numbers of emergencies with health consequences from all hazards, including infectious disease outbreaks, conflicts, natural disasters, chemical or radio-nuclear -spills and food contamination.
“Many emergencies can be complex, with more than one cause, and can have significant public health, social, economic, and political impacts,” Dr. Mulombo said.
He, however, warned that, “as we speak, the number of high-threat infectious hazards continues to rise: some of these are re-emerging and others are new.
“The outbreaks of vaçcines preventable infectious diseases, such as meningococcal disease, yellow fever and cholera, can have disastrous effects in areas with limited health infrastructure and resources, and where timely detection and response are difficult”.
The WHO boss in Nigeria revealed that in preparedness for the emerging threats from outbreaks, WHO recently supported the Government of Nigeria to develop a workforce of 83 national-level trainers from different sectors that are well-equipped for strengthening emergency preparedness and response and ready to deliver coordinated, integrated, and equitable public health action in times of emergencies.
The trained rapid-response workforce is equipped to deal with any health-related emergencies.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, emphasized the relevance of media in epidemic preparedness.
She, therefore, urged journalists in Nigeria to pay serious attention to issues of epidemic preparedness and adequate health funding.
Ms Vivian expressed concern that Nigeria’s health indices are not impressive, hence, urged journalists to hold politicians to account.
The annual event celebrates journalists from print, television and radio whose reporting on epidemic preparedness and response has been exemplary aimed at drawing public and policymakers’ attention to the need to adequately provide funding to prevent detect and respond to public health emergencies.
Mrs Ezedimbu Ogom of the African Independent Television (AIT) clinched the award for the television programme category, Mrs Nike Adebowale-Tambe of Premium Times clinched the award for the Print and Online category and Mrs Blessing Enebeli of Voice of Nigeria (VON) won the radio category of the award.
