Globally, promotion of hand hygiene is one of the cost effective public health interventions for the prevention and control of infections, particularly those caused by epidemic-prone pathogens. In line with this, the World Health Organisation launched the World Hand Hygiene Day which is celebrated every year. This event is part of the global advocacy efforts to mobilise citizens around the world to imbibe a general culture of handwashing with soap and running water, and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
The theme for this year’s event is “Achieving hand hygiene at the point of care†with the slogan “Seconds Save Lives – Clean Your Hands. In recognition of the importance of public awareness of hand hygiene, Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate the World Hand Hygiene Day on the 5thof May, 2021. The national sub-theme “One Nation, One Plan: Turn Nigeria Orange†is a recognition of the “Orange Network Project†which was launched by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in 2019. This is a network of tertiary health facilities in Nigeria which aims at promoting centers of excellence in infection prevention and control.
As part of her activities to mark this year’s event, the NCDC in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja organised a lecture on the importance of hand hygiene in health care settings. This further highlighted the priority given to the safety of health care workers (HCWs) by the NCDC. Some of our key partners - Infection Control Africa Network, Nigeria Society for Infection Control, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust (DRASA), Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO)' etc. also lent their voices and encouraged all to take responsibility to promote hand hygiene with key messages as follows:
1. Health Care Workers: Now more than ever, clean your hands at the point of care!
2. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practitioners: Be a champion and mentor colleagues on clean hands at the point of care!
3. Facility Managers: Ensure hand hygiene supplies are available at every point of care!
4. Policymakers: Invest now to ensure hand hygiene for all!
5. Patients and families: Wash your hands regularly, clean hands save lives!
6. Vaccinators: Clean your hands with every vaccination!
7. Everyone: Make washing your hands a regular habit – it protects us all!
An important outcome from this year’s event was the strong collaboration with stakeholders particularly in the area of IPC. We strongly believe that the afore-listed key messages when implemented will also contribute to the control of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.
The NCDC remains committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders in promoting hand hygiene-practices among HCWs and the public at large.
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
Key points
â— There were 43 suspected cases, six were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded from three LGAs in two states
Actions
To date:
â— Conducted 2021 Lassa fever (LF) high burden states preparedness/response engagement meeting
â— Dissemination of reviewed case management and safe burial practices guidelines
â— Ensured all five LF molecular laboratories in the NCDC network are working at full capacity for timely testing of samples with reduced turnaround time
Planned:
â— Finalise LF five-year strategic plan
Key points
◠There were six suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from three LGAs in two states (Ebonyi – 1 & Katsina – 5). One was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
â— National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from states and plan appropriately
â— Enhanced surveillance in all states
Planned:
â— Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
â— Continue to ensure that states reporting cases send their line lists and collect CSM samples
Key points
â— There were 34 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 25 LGAs in 13 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
â— National YF multi-partner Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate activities across states.
â— Daily monitoring and analysis of surveillance data across the country to guide response activities
Planned:
â— Continue supporting affected states across all pillars of response
â— Continue harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data ongoing
Key points
◠There were 166 suspected cases of cholera reported from ten LGAs in two states (Bayelsa – 8 & Kano – 158). None were laboratory confirmed and eleven deaths were recorded
Actions
To date
â— National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states and supporting affected states
â— Developed the 2021 Annual Cholera Preparedness and Response Work plan
â— Cholera jingles being aired in English and local languages across the country
Planned:
â— Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting states
â— Build capacity for sample collection, transportation, and laboratory diagnosis across states
Key points
â— There were 629 suspected cases of measles reported from 92 LGAs in 21 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and one death was recorded
Actions
To date
â— National Measles TWG is closely monitoring measles surveillance data and providing feedback to relevant agencies and development partners
â— Ongoing weekly surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation
Planned:
â— Intensify follow up with states to update and transmit line list
â— Continue monthly measles surveillance data review
Key points
â— There was one suspected case of monkeypox from Esan north east in Edo state. It is laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date
â— National Monkeypox Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring activities in all states
Planned:
â— Enhance surveillance for monkeypox in high burden states
â— Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
â— There were 56 suspected cases of AFP reported from 47 LGAs in 20 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
â— National COVID-19 multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate response activities across states
â— Continued dissemination of key safety precaution messages in Ramadan
â— Activation of Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital PCR Laboratory, Borno state as a public laboratory for COVID-19 testing
â— Ongoing genomic sequencing of all positive samples from travellers arriving Nigeria
Planned:
â— Deploy antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) kits and sample collection materials to the selected states
â— Intensify genomic surveillance activities
â— Conduct WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) assessment across all health facilities
â— Finalise Local Government Area (LGA) / State transmission categorisation
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