By Adeola Ogunlade
The need to strengthen Africa’s preparedness and resilience in tackling infectious disease outbreaks caused by emerging pathogens, public health emergencies and pandemics was the focus of the 6th African Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity held recently at Civil Centre, Lagos.
The event tagged Strengthening African’s Resilience in tackling Emerging Biosecurity Threats: Lesson from COVID-19 Pandemic. The event brought together hundreds of scientists, environmentalists, government representatives, and civil society groups.
The programme featured: Emerging Infectious Disease as an Accelerating Phenomenon, Biosecurity and Biothreat Reduction In Africa, Biobanking Infrastructure, The Need for a Vaccine Strategy for Emerging Infectious Diseases in Africa, The Cultural Anthropological, Social and Economic Impact of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Climate Change And Biosecurity Threats in Africa.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Heath, Lagos, Professor Akin Abayomi said that Lagos state is sub nation and has been one of the most successful on the curtailments of coronavirus facing the world.
He said that with all the effort and facility put in place by the state government to strengthen its health system, the whole world is vulnerable if each country do not build its resilience measures in tackling any emergence of infectious disease.
He asserted that the opportunities that globalization offer humanity is huge but it also makes imperative for a global coordinated investment in biosecurity to attend to emerging diseases.
He said that biosecurity is not just about your environment but the world over. This is because if you have an insecure place in one country, then the world as a whole is vulnerable.
Abayomi pointed out that biosecurity is a global problem and we have to look at it as a collective of humanity and ensure that everyone around the world is aware of what the principles of biosecurity is, stressing that if you are lack proper response to biosecurity in one part of the world then the world is in danger.
He asserted that human being lived in an environment and you cannot be healthy in an unhealthy environment. Our health is dependent on the environment in which we live and the food we eat
He posited that as a government, we are making sure that the food supply chain is healthy and free of poisonous or infectious diseases that can affect the health of our people.
Abayomi noted that that is the responsibility of the government the food supply and does not carry the risks of transmission of dangerous infectious diseases.
Also speaking at the event, The Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu restated the commitment of the federal government response toward strengthening the Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) to be able to response and monitor emerging outbreaks of disease across the country.
He said that every states in Nigeria has an EOCs apart from Ogun and Jigawa States, stating that It is important for all States in the country, to adapt the EOC structure to ensure better coordination, and contribute to national health security.Ihekweazu noted that the replication of EOC at the State level will greatly contribute to a stronger and better-coordinated response to outbreaks in the country.
On the importance of the Lagos Bio Bank in mitigating and preventing future outbreaks of diseases, the General Manager of the Lagos Bio Bank, Dr. Bamidele Mutiu said that Lagos Biobank was established to strengthen capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases
He said the need for a Lagos State Biobank was a result of Ebola samples gotten across West Africa in 2011 were taken out to Europe and we don’t have the samples till today.
He added that 30% of the Covid-19 test in Lagos was conducted by the Biobank and follow up on cases were also carried out.
Earlier, in his word, the Chief Operating Officer of GET, Dr, Babatunde Dotun said that no single individual, disciplines, sector or ministry can preempt and solve complex health challenges.
He highlighted that factors influencing global biosecurity threats include: emergence and spread of new microbes, environmental destruction and climate, globalization of travel and trade, rise of drug resistance, and potential accidental release, theft or misuse
He called for greater collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for people animal and environment in our response toward tackling emerging infectious diseases.
He said expanding One health encompasses any issues related to human, animal; and environment health
He said government can promote and strengthen transdisciplinary collaboration and partnership in One health approach by establishing framework for transdisciplinary collaboration among relevant ministries and stakeholders in One Health.
“Ensure clear information sharing strategy among One Heath Stakeholders. Create awareness for target groups in One Health approach”.
He continued: government should strengthen capacity and promote applied research at the human-animal-ecosystem interface by promoting One Health approach in formal and informal training for staffs in relevant ministries.