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Tag: Ifedayo Adetifa

  • Marburg Virus: NCDC express competence to control any reported case in Nigeria

    Marburg Virus: NCDC express competence to control any reported case in Nigeria

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Following a recent high alert of second incidence of Marburg Virus Disease detected in West Africa , to Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre of for Disease Control , NCDC, has said that Nigeria has the competence to control any reported case of the virus in the country.

    The Director General, NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said, “Nigeria has the resources (human, technical and laboratory) for prompt identification and management in the event of a single imported case.”
    The agency that it is aware of the declaration of the outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Ghana confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 17th of July 2022.

    According to NCDC, the Ghanaian public health officials with the support of WHO are responding to halt the spread of the disease.
    The disease control agency said due to the proximity of Ghana to Nigeria and the WHO alert , it has assured Nigerians that the NCDC-led multi sectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Working Group (EVHDWG) that coordinates preparedness efforts for MVD, and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities.

    NCDC experts said that the overall risk of importation of the disease and it’s potential impact on the Nigerian population is moderate due to factors such as incubation period of 21 days of the virus , heightened surveillance at the point of entry.

    Also Nigeria’s capacity to respond to the outbreak in country and the fact that persons with MVD transmit the virus when they become symptomatic unlike for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 that can also be transmitted by infected persons without symptoms, makes chances of spread moderate in the country.

    NCDC says this is the second time this zoonotic disease has been detected in West Africa following the previous incidence in Guinea in August 2021.
    The cases were reported in two unrelated males – 26 and a 51 years old – who both died from the disease.
    The disease was first discovered in 1967 following outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in some African countries.

  • COVID-19 pandemic kills 3,000 persons amid 250,000 confirmed cases in two years- NCDC

    COVID-19 pandemic kills 3,000 persons amid 250,000 confirmed cases in two years- NCDC

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    In two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Nigeria has recorded 3,000 deaths amid 250,000 confirmed cases on the virus.
    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa disclosed in a statement signed yesterday to mark the advent of the pandemic on the Nigerian soil.
    In a statement tagged ” Two Years of COVID-19 Response: Building on Lessons from COVID-19 to Strengthen Nigeria’s Health Security for the Future” , the agency said that Sunday, 27th February 2022, marked exactly two years since the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Nigeria.

    However NCDC commended the prompt notification of health authorities by an astute doctor attending to the index case and noted that since then,
    Nigeria has confirmed an excess of 250,000 cases, recorded over 3,000 deaths,

    Within the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, government in it’s wisdom is strengthening the country’s health system to cope with other
    infectious diseases and future health emergencies, the statement hinted.
    It however emphasized that before the invasion of COVID-19, the world was preparing for a possible influenza pandemic, but he arrival of SARS-CoV-2 highlighted inadequacies in global pandemic preparedness.

    Meanwhile, the agency had stressed that the risk of public health like COVID-19 have greatly disrupted the livelihoods of people.

    “This makes it critical to learn from lessons taught by this pandemic to strengthen preparedness and response to other diseases in line with our
    mandate.”
    “We have continued to face outbreaks of cholera and Lassa fever concurrently with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
    “During the pandemic, the NCDC supported the establishment of infectious disease treatment centres, molecular laboratories, and public health emergency
    operation centres in all States, and provided equipment required for critical care in hospitals such as dialysis machines.”

    Also within the period of the global virus pandemic, NCDC said it has trained over 4,000 health workers on infection prevention control, provided support such as vehicles for outbreak investigation across states, and ensured regular supplies of treatment and testing supplies among other activities.
    The NCDC therefore called on the government to prioritising health on the political agenda for more investment in the healthcare sector if the nation.