Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria is currently battling multiple infectious disease outbreaks, spanning across all six geopolitical zones, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The diseases include diphtheria, cholera, Lassa fever, and measles, with the situation worsened by climate-related challenges, humanitarian emergencies, and structural health system issues.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, announced on Tuesday during the three-day Stakeholder Workshop on Preparedness and Response to Public Health Emergencies. The workshop, which is being held in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to enhance Nigeria’s emergency preparedness strategies.
Dr. Idris emphasized that preparedness is defined not by the absence of outbreaks but by the country’s capacity to anticipate risks, detect threats early, and respond quickly and equitably. He pointed to Nigeria’s ongoing investments in emergency preparedness, citing frameworks like the National Action Plan for Health Security and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) as key tools in managing these outbreaks.
Despite the progress, Dr. Idris acknowledged the persistent challenges, including coordination issues, data integration, and workforce readiness. He stressed that sustainable financing and better alignment with national health priorities are critical to strengthening the response framework.
The workshop aims to identify bottlenecks and enablers within Nigeria’s public health infrastructure, with the goal of creating a roadmap for improving early detection, response coordination, and overall health resilience across both national and sub-national levels.
