UNICEF urges traditional leaders to report disease outbreaks early

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged traditional and community leaders in Niger State to promptly report suspected public health emergencies to the relevant authorities to strengthen disease prevention, control and outbreak response.

Earlier, UNICEF warned that Niger State is at risk of a polio outbreak following the increasing number of cases recorded in neighbouring states, stressing the need for intensified routine immunisation and surveillance.

The UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change State Facilitator, Adamu Mamba, made the call during a two-day training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Case Management During Disease Outbreaks held in Minna.

Mamba urged participants to support disease prevention efforts by promoting healthy practices within their communities and encouraging residents to embrace vaccination programmes.

“Community leaders should imbibe the culture of early reporting of suspected disease cases and actively support vaccination campaigns. Traditional and religious leaders have a critical role to play in disseminating accurate health information and mobilising communities during public health emergencies,” he said.

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Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the training, the representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Ali Wada Aliyu, said the agency had strengthened its collaboration with the Niger State Government to enhance disease surveillance and contain outbreaks.

Aliyu disclosed that the NCDC had commenced the training and equipping of Infection Prevention and Control focal persons across health facilities, with facility-specific preparedness and response plans in line with national guidelines.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the state through the provision of medical commodities, treatment supplies and technical expertise to improve disease outbreak preparedness and response.

“The NCDC is committed to supporting Niger State through the provision of medical commodities, treatment supplies and technical expertise to strengthen disease outbreak preparedness and response,” Aliyu said.