Stakeholders in the health sector have called on Nigerians to always maintain proper hygiene and seek information regarding any epidemic outbreak before it gets to their door steps.
They made the call on the occasion of this year’s International Day of Epidemic preparedness, observed annually on 27th December.
The day serves as a reminder on the importance of being prepared to face future health crises.
To strengthen global health systems and improve epidemic preparedness, countries must invest in health infrastructure, develop robust surveillance and detection systems and build a skilled and resilient healthcare workforce.
For instance, the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic, no doubt, has highlighted critical needs for robust and resilient health systems as well as international cooperation to prevent and respond to epidemics. Despite progress made in recent years, many countries remain ill-prepared to face epidemic.
To this end, the World Health Organization,WHO, has identified several key challenges which include weak health systems, limited access to care, inadequate surveillance and detection, which if invested upon can reduce the risk of epidemic.
In Nigeria, the culture of epidemic preparedness is on the decrease as most people only take health precautions against epidemic outbreak serious at the time when it has occurred.
Speaking on the occasion of the 2024 International Day of Epidemic preparedness, an epidemiologist at the Federal University of health science, Azare, Bauchi State, Dr. Ali Mohammed Baba said it is of utmost importance for people to always take proper health precautions and cooperate with specialist to curb the menace.
Dr. Ali however pleaded with government to seek global collaboration and invest more in health infrastructure to improve epidemic preparedness.
Still on epidermic preparedness,
Another respondent and head of department epidemic and disease control, primary health center Warri Delta state, Mrs Ndidi Oboh emphasized the need for people to always collect their vaccine, seek information and take it serious as it is the key and major step to curb outbreak of disease and stay safe. Mrs Oboh therefore advised the masses to always utilize the primary health care center that is within their community as well as participate in sensitisation programs.
The theme for this year’s Epidemic preparedness day is “Strengthening Global Health Systems for future Crises”.
