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Rolling out national plan for disease control

By Chukwuma Muanya, Assistant Editor
23 November 2017   |   4:20 am
As part of efforts to ensure a healthier and safer Nigeria through the prevention and control of diseases of public health importance, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday, launched a five-year strategy and implementation plan.

As part of efforts to ensure a healthier and safer Nigeria through the prevention and control of diseases of public health importance, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday, launched a five-year strategy and implementation plan.

National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, told journalists that as a platform to closely monitor and support the work of the NCDC, the 2017-2021 strategic plan seeks to create a strong vision for the NCDC underpinned by clearly defined principles and supported by well-articulated implementation and delivery plans.

The document detailing the strategy was launched by the Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at an event tagged “Idea To Reality.”

NCDC is Nigeria’s national public health institute with the mandate to provide a healthier and safer Nigeria through the prevention and control of diseases of public health importance. It is focused on protecting the health of Nigerians through evidence based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response activities, using a one-health approach, guided by research and led by a skilled workforce. Five key strategic goals guiding activities of the NCDC are:
•Accurately measure the burden of infectious diseases in Nigeria.
•Ensure Nigeria meets its international obligations under the International Health Regulations.
•Develop a Public Health Laboratory network to support the detection, prevention and response to critical infectious diseases.
•Reduce the adverse impact of predictable and unpredicted public health emergencies.
•Create efficiently managed and evidence-based organisations with a clear focus on health promotion and disease prevention.

Ihekweazu said “Our vision is to build the confidence of Nigerians and the global community in the NCDC in our preparedness to protect the health of citizens through information, inclusion and timely response to health concerns. We are ready to take on the task ahead, working in partnership with the Nigerian people. We assure you that we will give all it takes to strengthen our contribution to improving public health in Nigeria. Thank you for supporting taking our Idea to reality”.

The epidemiologist, in a statement, said under the mandate of the current leadership of the NCDC, activities started in late 2016 to collaboratively develop a 2017–2021 strategic plan, incorporating a new vision and mission to guide activities.

He said the new vision for the NCDC agreed after a series of staff and stakeholder consultations is: “A healthier and safer Nigeria through the prevention and control of diseases of public health importance”; this cascades into a mission Statement, which is further broken down into five key strategic goals with defined outcomes, 22 objectives and 89 corresponding activities for the 2017–2021 horizon.

In addition, Ihekweazu said, a performance management structure has been instituted to oversee and coordinate the execution of the multiple initiatives, as well as evaluate the progress made towards achieving the strategic goals.

He said NCDC is also the host for the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Regional Centre for Disease Control (RCDC) and the regional hub for the Africa Centres for Disease Control (ACDC).

Ihekweazu said the NCDC appreciates the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; the Permanent Secretary; Directors and colleagues at the Federal Ministry of Health for their continued support of NCDC. “NCDC also thanks the past Ministers of Health and the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, for the firm foundation laid upon which this strategic plan is built. NCDC is grateful to all partners, particularly the Tony Blair Institute, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) and Dr. Ebere Okereke who supported the development of this plan, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the US Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for their support and partnership.

NCDC toll-free number: 0800-970000-10 SMS: 08099555577 WhatsApp: 07087110839 Twitter/Facebook: @NCDCgov.”

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