FG launches five year Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023-2027 to tackle emerging diseases
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The Federal government has launched a five year Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023-2027 aimed at tackling emerging public health threats and evolving challenges.
This newly launched strategy and implementation plan themed “Vision to Action” reflects the agency’s commitment to the ministerial agenda for the health sector which has health security as the fourth pillar as well as its uts quest to advance the impact of health security interventions in Nigeria.
The 5-year strategy also identified seven goals, 41 objectives, and 225 activities of NCDC under the multi-sectoral coordinated collaborative efforts of the Federal government, State and Local governments, including the private sector, and development partners would ensure an improvement and transformation of the nation’s public health security.
Speaking at the lunch of the document yesterday in Abuja, the Director General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa noted new strategy is focused on systems, scaling, and sustainability leveraging the Strategic, Ambitious, Speed, and Scale – SASS approach to accelerate the impact of health security interventions in Nigeria, while also helping to serve as a model to other African countries.
Adetifa observed that the NCDC Strategy 2.0 was a result of success recorded in the NCDC Strategy and Implementation Plan 2017-2021 which enabled the agency to build on its strengths, further close identified gaps, and embrace innovation to achieve its overarching goals and objectives.
He stated that Nigeria has witnessed huge success in its Covid-19 response with what it has been able to put in place since the aftermath of COVID-19.
Nigeria not only improved its Joint External Evaluation (JEE) from 39% in 2018 to 54% in 2023, but it has also become the third country in the world to conduct the second JEE.
The JEE is part of the tool the World Health Organization (WHO) use to access countries health security
He said: “In 2017, Nigeria conducted its inaugural JEE, employing the JEE 1.0 tool, which yielded a readiness score of 39%.This led to the development of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) for the years 2018 to 2023 to address the identified gaps and recommendations arising from the 2017 evaluation.This year, we have successfully conducted the 2nd Joint External Evaluation for Nigeria, resulting in a commendable score of 54% for Nigeria’s health security capacity when assessed against its International Health Regulations (IHR) prescribed core capacities.
According to him, “The significance of this 2023, 2nd JEE cannot be overstated. It propels Nigeria to the position of being the second country in Africa and the third globally to undergo a second JEE.This achievement is a testament to the relentless dedication of our country, health security partners, and the tireless efforts of NCDC.This launch of the NCDC 5-year Strategic Plan (2023-2027) is designed to incorporate the insights and recommendations stemming from the 2nd JEE, as well as to encapsulate Nigeria’s priorities for strengthening health security”.
“As we move forward, the NCDC is steadfastly committed to enhancing our public health core capabilities, particularly in the realms of surveillance, laboratory services, and response to outbreaks, ultimately fortifying the protection of our citizens from national to sub-national levels including every LGA or Wards across Nigeria, he added ”.
By Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze
