Attachments
Developing Nigeria's Contingency Plans for Public Health Events Across Multiple Priority Infectious Hazards
Nigeria conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in 2017 which has led to the development of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) in line with IHR (2005). One of the key recommendations from the JEE and NAPHS is the development of a contingency plan for major outbreaks of epidemic prone diseases in the country as evident in the outbreaks of infectious diseases like Lassa fever, Cerebrospinal meningitis, cholera as well as resurgence of Monkey pox and yellow fever experienced over the years.
The Strategic Assessment of Risk (STAR) for the country was also conducted in July 2018 with risk profiling of infectious hazards and vulnerability assessment, where developing a contingency plan is critical to identifying resources, priority interventions, and mitigation that contributes to the reduction of morbidity and mortality in populations at risk.
As a follow up to achieving this, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) organised a workshop in Barcelona Hotels, Abuja from 17th to 21st September, 2018. The workshop had representatives from the Port Health service, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, State Ministries of Health (State Director of Public health & State Epidemiologists), UNICEF, US-CDC, AFENET, Pro-Health, UMB, MSF, Academia and other stakeholders. The goal was to develop a contingency plan that will improve/guide preparedness and response to disease outbreaks, and ensure effective utilisation of available resources within the country. It will also help to reduce the impact of outbreak or emergency of public health events.
With this, Nigeria through NCDC becomes better prepared for infectious disease threats that will reduce their potential public health consequences. This contingency plans will also serves as a guide to monitor progress of implementation across all levels.
Summary of reports
In the reporting week ending on September 9, 2018:
- There were 195 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 with the goal to eliminate polio in Nigeria.
- There were 1715 suspected cases of Cholera reported from 48 LGAs in ten States (Adamawa – 151, Bauchi – 4, Borno – 165, Ebonyi – 1, Gombe – 88, Kaduna – 11, Kano – 216, Katsina – 439, Kebbi – 11 and Zamfara - 629). Of these, 27 were laboratory confirmed and 38 deaths were recorded.
- Ten suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported from six LGAs in three States (Edo – 6, FCT – 3 & Rivers - 1). Five were laboratory confirmed and two deaths were recorded.
- There were 15 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from nine LGAs in five States (Ebonyi – 7, Enugu – 1, Ondo – 1, Plateau -1 & Yobe – 5). Of these, none was laboratory confirmed and one deaths was recorded.
- There were 194 suspected cases of Measles reported from 29 States. None was laboratory confirmed and 13 deaths were recorded.
In the reporting week, all States sent in their report except Delta, Edo and Taraba States. Timeliness of reporting remains 87% in both previous and current weeks (35 & 36) 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.