Society for Family Health (SFH) has called for a One Health approach that will promote preventive approach to epidemics.
The NGO made the call against the backdrop of repeated instances of epidemics in the country.
The Deputy Managing Director, Service Delivery, Kenechukwu Eruchalu, in a statement in Abuja, urged government at all levels to make epidemic resurgence a reason to invest in integrated health systems and epidemic preparedness.
“The business case for strengthening the nation’s pandemic-response capacity and primary health systems at all levels is compelling, particularly with the continuous outbreak of infectious diseases including the recent diphtheria, Lassa fever and anthrax.”
Eruchalu said that anthrax had essentially ceased to be regarded as a disease of major health or economic importance after the enormous successes of Max Sterne’s veterinary vaccine developed in the 1930s.
He, however, said there had been continuous recurrence which posed a lot of challenges to Nigeria’s already overstretched health system.
He added that the confirmation of the disease would “see a rapid shift from breaking glass’’ in case of emergency response systems to always-on systems and partnerships that could scale rapidly during epidemics.
“Integrate epidemic prevention agenda, the renaissance in infectious diseases research and development, and improve systems ready to surge while maintaining essential services and detecting infectious diseases.”
