Weekly Epidemiological Report

May 2020 Week 22

Editoral

Enhancing Community Engagement in the COVID-19 Response

Posted: 17-06-2020 02:16:34 PM

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the global media space has been saturated with COVID-19 related topics. However, this has also come with a barrage of misconception, misinformation, and fears from diverse conjectures regarding the transmission dynamics and other epidemiological characteristics of the disease. These have continued to present great challenges to the response activities of several countries and efforts to discourage high-risk behaviours.

Given the above, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) continues to leverage both new and traditional media platforms to communicate evidence-based messaging on COVID-19 preventive measures across the country. This includes scaling-up risk communication and awareness through strategic social mobilisation and community engagement. These efforts are critical for addressing public misconceptions, strengthening response efforts and ensuring the public have the confidence to take responsibility in the fight against COVID-19.

In line with this, on the 11th of June, 2020, the Risk Communication Pillar of the national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and Risk Communication Unit of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 organised a virtual dialogue session with relevant community stakeholders. The aim was to reinforce grass-root knowledge of COVID-19 and promote behaviour change in various communities towards slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The meeting had the following objectives:

1. To secure the buy-in of the state actors for bottom-up community engagement and behaviour change messaging

2. To effectively coordinate stakeholders, resources and efforts for effective and efficient risk communication and community engagement in hotspots local government areas (LGAs)

3. To continuously deploy data driven messages that address the emerging realities of the communities

4. To promote individual ownership and community leadership of the response to COVID-19

5. To use feedback from the communities to shape overall response

A total 172 participants from 18 states attended the meeting including State Epidemiologists, State Health Promotion Officers, State Primary Health Care Board Health Educators, development partners and other key stakeholders.

The meeting provided a unique opportunity to understand community perception of the current pandemic and how this can be tackled towards a harmonised national response. An important next step is to provide technical support to the states and LGAs on how to leverage their networks and use their influence to contribute to community behavioural change campaign.

As the economy gradually re-opens, we urge all Nigerians to adhere to the use of face masks when in public; wash hands frequently; and always observe physical distancing of at least 2 metres from others. The NCDC recognises the importance of community engagement and will continue to provide support to all relevant stakeholders to ensure the right information on COVID-19 is available to the public, at all levels.


Summary of Incidents

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

5. Information for sentinel influenza was retrieved from the laboratory


Lassa Fever

Key points

• There were 78 suspected cases, six (6) laboratory confirmed cases and no death was recorded from 35 LGAs in ten states

Actions

To date:

• National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels

• State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre activated in affected States

Planned:

• Continue resource mobilisation


Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)

Key points

There were three (3) suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from three LGAs in two states (Borno – 1 & Taraba - 2). 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


Yellow Fever

Key points

• There were 13 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 12 LGAs in six states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

Actions

To date:

• National multiagency YF Technical Working Group (TWG) is coordinating response activities

Planned:

• Surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation are ongoing


Cholera

Key points

• There was no case of cholera reported this week

Actions

To date

• National cholera multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states and supporting already affected states

Planned:

• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting states

• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data


Measles

Key points

• There were 388 suspected cases of measles reported from 74 LGAs in 20 states. None was laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded

Actions

To date

• National Measles TWG is closely monitoring measles surveillance data and providing feedback to relevant agencies and development partners

• Tracking surveillance and laboratory performance indicators

• Weekly surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation ongoing

Planned:

• Monthly measles surveillance data review

• Strategise on utilisation of the zoom app for TWG meetings for timely review of measles surveillance data and feedback


Monkeypox

Key points

• There was no case of monkeypox reported this 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


Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Key points

• There were 77 suspected cases of AFP reported from 70 LGAs in 25 states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded


Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Actions

To date:

• National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states

• National Rapid Response Team continues to support affected states

• Recruited, trained and deployed medical doctors to support Port Health Services (PHS) to capture passengers’ information electronically into SORMAS in Lagos and Abuja airports

• Shared quarantine guidelines and distributed NCDC care kits to returnees in FCT and Lagos

• Two (2) additional laboratories activated in Kano State- E-health and International Foundation Against Infectious Diseases (IFAIN) labs

• Guideline for worship places launched and circulated to religious leaders and the public

Planned:

• Finalise development of a video on contextual use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in Treatment Centres

• Engagement with states to discuss Contact Tracing approach and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

• Operationalisation of COVID-19 testing in Gene-Xpert sites

• Deployment of mortality audit teams to states


National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance

Key points

• The subtypes A seasonal H3, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 0 (0.0%), 2 (9.5%) and 19 (90.5%) of the total influenza A positive sample respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 0 (0.0%), 8 (100%) and 0 (0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively.

• The percentage influenza positive was highest in week 10 with 40%.


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports


Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

Highlight of the week

  • Summary of Incidents
  • Lassa Fever
  • Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)
  • Yellow Fever
  • Cholera
  • Measles
  • Monkeypox
  • Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
  • Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  • National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports
  • Timeliness and Completeness of Reports by State

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