AS part of efforts to improve the functioning of surveillance against epidemic prevention and control, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its partners, the European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has launched the Support to the Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control in ECOWAS member States.
The programme which is implemented by GIZ together with its partner institutions, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), as well as the different National Coordination Institutions (NCIs) is targeted towards improving communication on health risks due to infectious diseases.
According to the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, the project is expected to gulp €5 million.
He said with the €5 million Euros funding by the EU in addition to the funds provided by other donors, Issues around Communication strategies would be addressed.
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Karlsen who was represented by Dr Anthony Ayeke said the fund is to catalyse networking among the National coordinating institutes, adding that it would build up their capacity to better respond to epidemics in a comprehensive and coherent manner rather disjointedly as happened in the last outbreak.
He said, “Basically one will be able to have an early warning system in place through digitalised surveillance so that the right information gets to the right people and at the right time all the time, that’s going to be our focus and the major thrust of this project.”
The Head of Programme, GIZ Regional Programme Pandemic Prevention in the ECOWAS Region, Sabine Ablefoni, explained that the programme is also aimed at improving inter-institutional coordination and communication and strengthen human resources in the field of preparedness and disease control.
She further said it would strengthen digitalised surveillance systems and management of epidemics, adding that it will allow the ECOWAS zone to strengthen health information, surveillance systems, coordination and communication, regional and national response teams, operational research and the capacity of the staff.
The representative of GIZ Nigeria, Deputy Country Director Hans Bruns, who highlighted the strong long-term cooperation with the ECOWAS whom GIZ supports in the areas of organisational development, trade, customs policy and peace and security, reassured that sustainability efforts will be driven by strengthening the regional organisations of the ECOWAS Commission, West African Health Organisation, Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control and others.
He expressed hope for an excellent collaboration between the various actors for an efficient implementation of the project in order to achieve the expected results.