The State Centre for Disease Control across the
country has been urged to re-launch efforts towards stronger disease
surveillance so as to be proactive against infectious diseases.
Giving this charge at the weekend was the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) following the conclusion of its second Annual
Surveillance Review Meeting, held at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel in Enugu State.
According to NCDC, this year’s edition of the Annual
Surveillance Review Meeting provided the opportunity for scientists at the
frontline of disease surveillance in Africa’s most populous country to interact
with one another.
It was also to obtain feedback on their work at
state level and the attendant impact.
The first edition of the meeting held in Ibadan,
Oyo State in 2016 where all states participants – State Epidemiologists and
Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers – were charged with carrying out
surveillance-related reforms in their respective states.
“The year’s edition therefore served as an
opportune time to review, reinvigorate and re-launch efforts towards stronger
disease surveillance in Nigeria. States took turns in providing an update on
activities carried out in the previous year, showcasing accomplishments and
challenges.”
They also shared the results of their individual
SWOT analyses, which served as a framework for state-focused national planning
for the current year, the centre said.
Delivering the keynote speech, Prof. Eze Okoli
stressed on the concept of ‘One Health’ with particular emphasis on how
colleagues in animal and human health had successfully worked together in the
past to address important health issues of the day.
He explained why this has now been recognized as the
way forward for the future for health care delivery and research which aims to
deliver a healthier world.
“Sessions ended with state-led presentations on
strategies and next steps; these were compiled in a communiqué that was
disseminated at the meeting. Worthy of note is the strong need for state level
advocacy towards robust support for surveillance by state governments across
Nigeria. Participants also agreed to take ownership of surveillance activities
in their respective states, with acknowledgement of the need for sustainable
support of partners.”
The Director of Surveillance of NCDC, Olubunmi Ojo
said: “The success achieved at the meeting was as a result ofthe dedication of
participants from states, and the generous support of our partners.”
