Some health experts have emphasised that trust, community engagement, and effective communication are critical to controlling infectious disease outbreaks.

They spoke at a one-day high-level public health symposium. The symposium, held on Monday in Abuja, brought together public health professionals, scientists, and key stakeholders to examine lessons learned from both countries’ responses to past health emergencies.

Liukui Wang of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that addressing pandemics was not solely a technical challenge but fundamentally a social issue.

Mr Wang said that the success of disease control measures depended heavily on social behaviour, trust in information, and community engagement. He said that in Nigeria, social structures such as churches, religious organisations, and local networks play a major role in shaping public perceptions.

Mr Wang said that local actors like teachers, transport authorities, and religious leaders were crucial for sustaining trust over time.

Safiya Isa, the director of advocacy and partnerships at Nigeria Health Watch, shared lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing the importance of social listening to understand community fears and perceptions in real time.

Ms Isa restated the need for rapid dissemination of accurate information through the same channels that misinformation spreads.

She highlighted strategies like leveraging traditional rulers, ward development committees, and two-way communication platforms to provide timely, accurate information.

Haitao Hu, microbiologist and immunologist from China, underscored the importance of preparation before an outbreak.

Mr Hu further said that integrating local voices into planning structures, such as Risk Communication and Community Engagement Technical Working Groups, was essential.

Tochi Okwor, head of disease prevention and control at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said that maintaining community trust required consistent service delivery.

Mr Okwor said that trust could only be sustained when communities receive reliable, quality services and are actively engaged in public health processes.

(NAN)