(Quick News Africa)- A team of international experts on Thursday said Nigeria has made commendable progress in fulfilling the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR).
This verdict was passed after a seven-day Joint External Evaluation (JEE) process by a team of international experts that scrutinized Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to threats of public health significance.
With support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, the 19-part thematic assessment, which included surveillance systems, airports and agriculture, was hosted by Nigeria’s IHR Focal Point, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to a statement issued Thursday by Boboye Onduku, NCDC’s technical assistant on communications, the final draft report on the JEE will be available for country review within two weeks and will be published in a month’s time.
At a ceremony to mark the end of the assessment in Abuja, Nigeria’s minister of health, Isaac Adewole, said the country was better prepared for health emergencies and was on track in fashioning out better response mechanisms.
“I am proud that we have been able to go through this process to ensure that Nigeria will not be left behind. I am confident that we will get it right despite the work that remains to be done in strengthening our capacity to prevent, detect and respond to emergencies,” Adewole stated.
However, the outcome of the joint external evaluation, which is a voluntary, collaborative process to assess a country’s capacity under IHR, also highlighted the need for Nigeria to make additional investments and apply concerted efforts to improve its performance in key areas.
“The NCDC takes responsibility for coordinating this, and we call for further participation of all national stakeholders, especially our colleagues from the armed forces, uniformed services and security agencies to continue to lead and participate in their respective areas,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu, who is the national coordinator and chief executive officer of NCDC.
