The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention urged state governments across the country to strengthen subnational emergency preparedness and response in order to boost health security reforms under the Nigeria Health Security Reform Implementation Initiative.
The NCDC gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the unveiling of the NHSRII State Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan for States.
Public Health Emergencies and climate events are becoming increasingly complex and systemic in how they affect health systems and human development in general. While such emergencies undermine and reverse efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the capacity to prevent, detect, and respond effectively is ultimately required to adapt systems and mitigate their impact when they occur.
The overarching goal of the NHSRII State Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan programme for states is to build subnational capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to PHEs and climate events.
The State EPR Plan serves as a roadmap for strengthening epidemic preparedness, coordination, and health security across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank, is designed to help states adapt the framework to their local realities and develop actionable plans aligned with national standards.
Speaking during the meeting, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris emphasized that public health emergencies such as Ebola, COVID-19, and other emerging infectious diseases often begin at the community level, where response mechanisms are weakest.
He noted that while the NCDC provides national coordination, responses should ideally start at the state and local government levels, adding that many states still face gaps in infrastructure, financing, and implementation.
Idris explained that the newly introduced Emergency Preparedness and Response framework under the NHSRII provides a guide for decision-making and coordinated action at the subnational level.
He added that the framework serves as a guide for decision-making and action for states, outlining specific expectations and procedures for improved public health security at the state level.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, commended the NCDC for its collaborative approach, describing the meeting as a step toward deepening state-level capacity and ensuring that preparedness does not wait for outbreaks.
Filani stressed that states remain committed to prioritizing health investments and developing early warning systems that can quickly detect and contain potential outbreaks.
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