The Nigerian government has highlighted the significant financial strain on the healthcare system due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Tochi Okwor, the Coordinator of the National Infection Prevention and Control Programme at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), shared this information during the launch of the national IPC Technical Working Group (IPC TWG) in Abuja.

According to Mrs. Okwo, a report by WaterAid Nigeria revealed that the cost of HAIs is projected to reach $4.5 billion in 2023, equivalent to about N7.2 trillion based on the current exchange rate of N1,620 to a dollar. HAIs are infections that patients contract while undergoing medical or surgical treatment in healthcare facilities.

These infections can arise during procedures, from the use of medical equipment, or through the spread of pathogens in healthcare settings.

Mrs. Okwor has indicated that individuals seeking healthcare are significantly vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in both hospitals and primary health centers, primarily due to inadequate prevention and control measures.

Common forms of HAIs include surgical site infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

She noted that in 2023, the prevalence of HAIs accounted for 3.8 percent of the total healthcare expenditure within the health sector. Furthermore, estimates suggest that the economic impact of these infections represents approximately 0.94 percent of the nation's GDP.

Mrs. Okwor remarked, “Healthcare-associated infections are preventable injuries that occur when infection prevention and control practices are insufficient in healthcare settings. Additionally, we face a significant burden from community-acquired infections.”

She further stated, “The total economic burden of healthcare-associated infections in Nigeria has been projected to reach up to 4.5 billion dollars in 2023, with the costs associated with these infections constituting 3.8 percent of our overall healthcare expenditure.”

Importance of prevention and control

The Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Chukuma Anyadike, affirmed that infection prevention and control (IPC) is fundamental to public health and serves as the essential foundation for a robust health system.

Mr. Anyadike emphasized that no patient should contract an infection while receiving medical care, and that healthcare workers are also vulnerable to infections during their provision of care, underscoring the necessity of prioritizing IPC measures. He further highlighted that IPC represents a validated approach to reduce harm and prevent significant suffering and financial burdens on individuals and the healthcare system.

He stated, “Compelling evidence indicates that as much as 70 percent of infections associated with healthcare can be avoided through the implementation of effective IPC strategies. Investing in IPC is among the most economically efficient actions that can be taken.”

Mr. Anyadike remarked that IPC acts as the primary safeguard against the transmission of infectious diseases, protecting patients, healthcare professionals, and the wider community.

For example, enhancing hand hygiene practices in healthcare environments can reduce the risk of mortality from infections caused by resistant pathogens by more than 50% and can lower long-term health complications and burdens by at least 40%.

Each dollar spent on improving hand hygiene can yield savings of approximately US$ 16.50 in decreased healthcare costs.

Govt efforts

In an initiative aimed at decreasing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), the public health director announced that sector authorities have created a national infection prevention and control (IPC) manual, along with specific guidelines tailored for healthcare professionals.

He noted that these manuals have been embraced by various states and distributed to selected secondary health facilities and primary healthcare centers.

In partnership with the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos and the Infection Control Africa Network, the government has also trained over 100 IPC focal persons to serve as IPC specialists in health facilities across the nation.

Mr. Anyadike remarked, “In the past decade, significant outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, cholera, and the COVID-19 pandemic have illustrated the rapid transmission of infections within communities and their amplification in healthcare environments.

These occurrences have revealed deficiencies in our IPC program and underscored the urgent need for robust infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategies.”

The Technical Working Group was established to ensure the proper implementation of the IPC, as stated by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate. Mr. Pate, represented by the NCDC DG, Jide Idris, emphasized that the formation of the unit is a crucial component of the national health sector plan under the current administration.

He highlighted that the creation of the TWG is in line with the Global Action Plan on Infection Prevention and Control 2024-2030, recently endorsed by the World Health Assembly.

"The presence of a national IPC Technical Working Group is a significant indicator at the national level to monitor the implementation of the Global Action Plan on IPC."

He further mentioned that Nigeria has shown leadership in infection prevention and control, setting a model for other nations to emulate with this recent development.