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Preparedness for outbreaks and public health events in Nigeria
Nigeria has experienced multiple outbreaks and public health events, some of which occur concurrently at different times of the year. The effect of this has brought to fore, the need to carry out a risk assessment of the country vis-à-vis disease outbreaks and public health events of importance.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently held a two-day meeting in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to review the Vulnerability Risk Assessment Tool. The objective of this meeting was to produce an adapted tool which will be used to assess the country’s capacity for outbreak preparedness and response.
Events reviewed were cholera, flood, Lassa fever, yellow fever, Monkeypox, terrorism, communal/religious crisis, lead poisoning, Road Traffic Accidents (RTA), measles and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM). The meeting assessed areas these areas in terms of existence of trained personnel, role of development partners at the state level, intensity of collaborations with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies besides the Health Ministry, deployment of logistics items for response, predictability of events based on socio-demographic factors and availability of health facilities in affected areas.
Following the finalisation of the tool, the next critical step will be to administer the tool across States in Nigeria. Results from this exercise will be analysed and shared with State Governments and stakeholders.
The information from this assessment will be utilised for prompt action to address gaps identified. This will also serve as a template for strengthening preparedness and response activities in Nigeria.
Summary of reports
In the reporting week ending on August 12, 2018:
- There were 163 new cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) reported. None was confirmed as Polio. The last reported case of Polio in Nigeria was in August 2016. Active case search for AFP is being intensified as Nigeria has reinvigorated its efforts at eradicating Polio.
- 962 suspected cases of Cholera were reported from 43 LGAs in ten States (Adamawa – 2, Bauchi – 2, Borno – 10, FCT – 6, Jigawa – 32, Kaduna – 21, Kano – 135, Katsina – 136, Yobe – 18 and Zamfara - 600). Of these, 21 were laboratory confirmed and 18 deaths were recorded.
- 12 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported from seven LGAs in five States (Borno – 1, Edo – 2, Enugu – 1, Gombe – 1 & Ondo - 7). Four were laboratory confirmed and one deaths was recorded.
- There were ten suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from ten LGAs in eight States (Akwa-Ibom – 1, Bauchi – 1, Benue – 1, Delta – 1, Ebonyi – 2, Enugu – 1, Ogun –2 & Yobe – 1). Of these, none was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded.
- There were 172 suspected cases of Measles reported from 30 States. None was laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded.
In the reporting week, all States sent in their report except Bauchi, Cross River and Taraba States. Timeliness of reporting remains 88% in both previous and current weeks (week 31 & 32) while completeness also remains 99% at same period. It is very important for all States to ensure timely and complete reporting at all times, especially during an outbreak.