The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with Nigeria to strengthen emergency preparedness, disease surveillance and response systems across West Africa.

Kokou Alinon, regional director, West Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC) of the Africa CDC, made the commitment in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Alinon was on a high-level engagement with the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and senior health officials.

Mr Alinon, a member of the Public Health Emergency Management Team (PHEMT) from CDC Atlanta, expressed delight in being part of the discussion, even as he acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in regional health security.

He described the country as “a model and one of the three pillars of Africa’s epidemic surveillance system,” alongside Liberia and Burkina Faso.

“Nigeria’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been instrumental in shaping regional preparedness.

“We must now organise ourselves to strengthen the Points of Entry and build stronger digital links between national and regional EOCs to ensure real-time coordination and data-driven decision-making,” he said.

He emphasised that Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) is closely tied to data, underscoring the need to enhance Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) to improve early warning and response capacities across the region.

“Our decisions must be based on credible data. If we strengthen our data systems, especially EBS, we will make faster and better decisions that can save lives,” he noted.

The regional director disclosed plans to establish a regional EOC hub in Abuja to connect all national EOCs across West Africa, facilitating stronger coordination and information sharing.

He also announced that with adequate funding, Africa CDC intends to deploy staff across all the 36 states in Nigeria to support data collection, surveillance and emergency response activities.

“Many of these experts are Nigerians who understand the local context, culture and health systems.

“Their presence across the states will help strengthen response capacity and ensure that no state is left behind,” he added.

He reaffirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to supporting the federal ministry of health and social welfare and the NCDC in their shared mission of safeguarding health security.

“Africa CDC considers Nigeria a home base. We are here to work hand-in-hand to strengthen preparedness, build resilience and respond effectively to health emergencies across the continent,” he said.

The meeting, convened by the NCDC, sought to guide states on implementing the EPR Action Plan.

A key component of Nigeria’s health security reform agenda is aimed at strengthening preparedness, response and coordination at the sub-national levels.

(NAN)