USCDC commends Nigeria on acute febrile illness surveillance milestone

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) has commended Nigeria on its progress in implementing the Acute Febrile Illness Surveillance (AFIS) project, a critical component of the country’s disease surveillance system.

The Acute Febrile Illness Sentinel Surveillance (AFIS) project, implemented by the NCDC in collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), aims to determine the etiologies of acute febrile illness among children and adults.

The project has established sentinel sites across the six geopolitical zones, leveraging surveillance data management infrastructure at NCDC (SORMAS) for reporting and data management.

Speaking at the AFIS Transition Workshop, the USCDC Programme Director, Division of Global Health Protection, Farah Husain stated, that the transition marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts to strengthen public health systems in Nigeria.

Hussain added that the transition of AFIS is a testament to the country’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its population.

She emphasised the importance of AFIS in detecting and responding to emerging and re-emerging disease threats, saying, “Surveillance of acute febrile illness is crucial in identifying and containing outbreaks, and Nigeria has made tremendous progress in building capacity for AFIS over the past two years.”

She also acknowledged the challenges faced during the implementation process, noting, “While we have encountered stumbling blocks along the way, we have learned valuable lessons that will inform our future efforts. The key is to keep going despite the challenges, and Nigeria has demonstrated its dedication to this critical public health initiative.

“The USCDC commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its leadership and support in ensuring the sustainability of AFIS.

“The Director-General and his team at NCDC have demonstrated exceptional commitment to this project, and their efforts will continue to save lives and serve as a model for the region.”

Similarly, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, also reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to strengthening surveillance on acute febrile illnesses, whic is a major public health challenge in the country.

He also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in detecting and managing febrile illnesses.

“The success of our surveillance efforts depends on each one of us. Whether you are a frontline health worker, a data analyst, a policymaker, or a community leader, your role is vital.

“We must work together to ensure that our surveillance systems are strong, that our responses are swift, and that the health of our nation is safeguarded,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Virology of Nigeria(IHVN) for AFIS study, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, expressed the Institute’s excitement to partner with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in supporting the Government of Nigeria’s efforts to improve healthcare outcomes.

She noted that the partnership aims to enhance the diagnosis and care of patients in Nigerian facilities.

“We’re very excited to support the Government of Nigeria, and we’re honored that our sponsors, the US CDC, have found in us the ability to really help in implementing this project.

“It’s a true partnership, and I have no doubt that because we are here, and because we built this foundation together, the transition will be seamless.”

She emphasised the importance of collaboration and seamless transition in achieving their goals.

“We will continue to support the President of Nigeria as it leads us forward on this issue and other issues as well. The partnership is seen as a crucial step forward in addressing healthcare challenges in Nigeria.

“This is a very important activity, and something that we know is not the end, we’re just starting. We’ll just do better at it because we have credible partners that are ready to support us,” she added

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