Nigeria Will Get Better At Responding To Emerging, Infectious Diseases – Mamora

Nigeria will keep building her capacity to positively react to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora has said.

Olorunnimbe revealed this as he declared open a Coronavirus (COVID19), Infection Prevention and Control Training of Trainers (IPC,TOT), workshop for participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde and Côte d’Ivoire.

According to him, 2 years ago, Nigeria developed a national training manual for Infection Prevention Control (IPC) to treat Lassa fever outbreaks in the country and more is still to come.

He added that protecting Nigerians and preventing the spread of dangerous diseases in our nation is of utmost priority to the ministry.

His words, ”In 2018, Nigeria developed a national training manual for Infection Prevention Control (IPC) which is being used in major treatment centres across the country especially in response to Lassa fever outbreaks.

“This is driven through the National Centre Disease Control (NCDC), National Infection Prevention and Control Programme on IPC practices,”

“It is important to state that what you have learned should not end here but be passed on to every health worker in your various countries towards the prevention and control of COVID-19.”

”Nigeria is pleased to host participants from across the continent particularly those from the 16 Africa Union Member States.

“This training is a big step towards strengthening the preparedness and response of Africa, to COVID-19.”

“The declaration of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) has ensured coordinated efforts at international, regional, national and even sub-national levels.

“There is still much to learn about COVID-19 but we know for certain that person-to-person transmission has been confirmed.

“Therefore, health workers, who are at the forefront of response activities through caring for patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, are at risk of infection.

“This makes adherence to IPC practices a priority for countries in order to protect their citizens and significantly reduce the risk of transmission within and outside the country.”