Adeyemi Matthew
This initiative aims to empower Nigerian health
professionals to effectively tackle the ongoing challenges posed by various
disease outbreaks in the country.
During a media roundtable held in Lagos, Dr. Muhammad Saleh
from the U.S. CDC emphasized the critical nature of this investment, given
Nigeria's history of frequent disease incidents.
He noted that the U.S. CDC has been actively supporting
Nigeria's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through its Public Health
Emergency Management (PHEM) certification program.
Dr. Saleh also introduced a new cohort of graduates from the
U.S. CDC-supported PHEM program, which is specifically designed to provide
public health professionals with the essential skills and knowledge required
for effective emergency management and response.
He underscored the program's importance, highlighting its
role in strengthening Nigeria's ability to handle outbreaks such as meningitis,
diphtheria, and COVID-19.
Additionally, he pointed out that the program has fostered
regional and international collaboration, aiding Nigeria's progress in joint
external evaluations.
The U.S. CDC has invested more than $2 million in these
initiatives, with over 200 Nigerian public health personnel graduating from the
PHEM program since its inception in 2017.
Dr. Saleh further discussed the collaborative efforts
between the U.S. CDC and Nigeria in building capacity and supporting disease
outbreak responses at the state level.
He mentioned that among the 223 international PHEM fellows
trained by the CDC in Atlanta from 49 countries, only seven were from Nigeria,
highlighting the necessity for local expansion of PHEM capabilities to enhance
the operations of Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs).
Saleh highlighted that Nigeria has been a partner country in
the Global Health Security Agenda since 2019, demonstrating its commitment to
safeguarding the world against health threats from infectious diseases. He
further pointed out that the U.S. CDC has been enhancing Nigeria's capacity
through the PHEM program.
He stated, “Catastrophic events such as pandemics, natural
disasters, and the emergence or re-emergence of high-threat diseases can impact
any nation at any time.
The PHEM program plays a vital role in developing a robust
public health workforce capable of effectively responding to health
emergencies.
It enhances the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of public
health personnel regarding emergencies, fosters a culture of emergency
management and resilience among stakeholders, and offers specialized training
in PHEM care capabilities essential for preparedness and response.”
Saleh explained that the program is structured into basic,
intermediate, and advanced levels, which have significantly improved Nigeria's
ability to handle outbreaks, including those of meningitis, diphtheria, and
COVID-19.
He noted that the U.S. Government's investment in Nigeria
has yielded substantial benefits, including the detection and management of
various outbreaks.
The program has also promoted regional and international
knowledge exchange, resulting in an increase in Nigeria's joint external
evaluations from 39 percent to 54 percent.
The U.S. government has invested over $2 million to support
these initiatives. Since 2017, more than 200 public health professionals have
graduated from the PHEM program, enhancing emergency preparedness and response
capabilities.
Successful graduates have effectively managed outbreaks such
as meningitis, diphtheria, and COVID-19, leading to the identification of over
1,134 meningitis cases in Nigeria.
The leadership of the U.S. CDC in Nigeria, headed by Dr.
Farah Husain, Director of the U.S. CDC Division of Global Health Protection
Programme, reaffirmed the U.S. government's dedication to enhancing Nigeria's
capacity-building initiatives.
Dr. Husain stated that the U.S. CDC is committed to
implementing strategies that focus on the prevention, detection, and response
to public health threats, while also collaborating with partners to deliver
specialized training programs.
She underscored the significance of collaboration in
improving public health and emergency management, urging for ongoing
partnerships.
Dr. John Oladejo, the Director of Special Duties at the
NCDC, emphasized the critical role of the Public Health Emergency Management
(PHEM) training in equipping participants with the necessary skills to manage
emergency situations effectively.
He explained that the training encompasses various elements
of public health emergency management, such as incident management systems,
planning, logistics, and more.
The PHEM program has been instrumental in fortifying
Nigeria’s public health workforce and enhancing its capacity to respond to
emergencies. Continued support from the U.S. CDC is vital for ensuring
Nigeria's readiness to tackle future health challenges.
Dr. Oladejo noted that the PHEM training is designed to
provide participants with essential skills and competencies, enabling them to
coordinate emergency management efforts during disease outbreaks.
He also highlighted the importance of the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC), which plays a key role in maintaining vigilant
surveillance, conducting risk assessments, deploying personnel to states, and
managing data during outbreaks.
He remarked that the collaborative approach to emergency
management fosters greater integration and strengthens Nigeria's public health
defense capabilities.
Oladejo expressed gratitude for the support received from
various partners and highlighted the significant program that has equipped
leaders to effectively manage competitive emergencies.
He noted that since 2003, the U.S. CDC has played a crucial
role as a strategic partner to both federal and state ministries of health,
along with their respective departments and agencies, in enhancing public
health outcomes in Nigeria.