The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued to play a critical role as the National Focal Point for the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR) in Nigeria. This includes strengthening the multi-sectoral collaboration for health security, working with relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Parastatal as well as development partners.
One of the key outputs from the 2017 Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of IHR core capacities in Nigeria, was the limited capacity in “Linking Public Health and Securityâ€. This technical area recognises the critical role that security agencies play in contributing to national health security. The Nigerian military represents an asset to public health due to their national presence and ability to deploy resources to hard-to-reach areas as well as to security compromised areas during emergency response. This has been utilised during events such as Nigeria’s polio response in the North-East.
To strengthen the collaboration between the military and relevant public health institutions, NCDC has continued to build the capacity of the military in public health emergency management. In line with this, NCDC conducted parallel Public Health Emergency Operations training for security agencies in Nigeria. This held from 7th -11th November 2020 (Southern region) and 14th – 18th December, 2020 (Northern region) The objectives of the training were to:
1. Train military medical commissioned officers on Public Health Emergency Operations.
2. Link trained military medical commissioned officers with the respective public health emergency operations centres of their locations for mentorship and collaboration.
3. Provide framework for establishment of military medical emergency operations centres to support response to public health emergencies.
4. Develop reporting and information sharing mechanism between State PHEOCs, NCDC and the military for public health emergencies
With 120 military health personnel (army, military and air force) drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the training methodology included power-point presentations, mentoring and simulation exercise on key thematic areas of emergency response management, and EOC processes.
The training provided an opportunity to strengthen our collaboration in linking public health and security services. The NCDC remains committed to working with the military and other public health workforce to ensure effective coordination of outbreak preparedness and response for national health security.
Notes
1. Information for this disease was retrieved from the Technical Working Group and Situation Reports
2. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for this disease is reported for confirmed cases only
3. Information for this disease was retrieved from IDSR 002 data
4. CFR for this disease is reported for total cases i.e. suspected + confirmed
Key points
• There were 69 suspected cases, four were laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded from 4 LGAs in 2 States
Actions
To date:
• National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate response activities at all levels
• Cross border collaboration with Benin Republic on newly reported Lassa fever cases
• Implementation of targeted risk communication activities in most affected states
Planned:
• Continue mobilisation of resources
• Finalisation of Lassa fever five-year strategic plan
Key points
• There were two suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from two LGAs in Katsina State. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from States and plan appropriately
• Enhanced surveillance in all states
Planned:
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
• Continue to ensure that states reporting cases send their line lists and collect CSM samples
Key points
• There were 163 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 30 LGAs in 19 states. Two were laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National YF multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states
Planned:
• Finalise ICG request for reactive mass vaccination in Enugu and Bauchi States
• Print IEC materials and distribute to States to sensitise communities and increase awareness for YF
• Continue to support affected states across all pillars of response
• Continue harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data ongoing
Key points
• There were 21 suspected cases of Cholera reported from Southern Ijaw LGA in Bayelsa State. None was laboratory confirmed and two deaths were recorded
Actions
To date
• National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all States and supporting affected States
Planned:
• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting States
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
• There were 97 suspected cases of Measles reported from 58 LGAs in 18 States & FCT. One was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date
• National Measles TWG is closely monitoring measles surveillance data and providing feedback to relevant agencies and development partners
• Weekly surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation ongoing
Planned:
• Intensify follow up with states to update and transmit line list
• Continue monthly measles surveillance data review
Key points
• There was no suspected case of monkeypox in the reporting week
Actions
To date
• National Monkeypox Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring activities in all States
Planned:
• Enhance surveillance for monkeypox in high burden States
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
• There were 79 suspected cases of AFP reported from 70 LGAs in 25 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Key points
• The subtypes A seasonal H3, A seasonal H1, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 1(1.9%), 2(3.7%), 17(31.5%) and 34(63.0%) of the total influenza A positive samples respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 3(27.3%), 8(72.7%) and 0(0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively.
• The percentage Influenza positive was highest in week 7 with 37.5%.
Actions
To date:
• National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states
• High level virtual strategic coordination engagement with Honourable Commissioners for Health and State Epidemiologists
• Ongoing deployment of response strategies in collaboration with State response teams to improve response to surge in COVID-19 cases
• Currently tracking reports from trained healthcare workers in hotspot LGAs across 10 States
• Ongoing data management and analysis on the channel’s software
Planned:
• Conduct e-fresher courses training for IPC trainers
• Develop plan routine testing for COVID-19
• Follow up and assessment of hand hygiene facilities under the Orange Network programme
• Finalise laboratory quality assurance plan
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