Participants at a Training organized by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC have identified Lassa fever, Mpox and Rabies as prioritised zoonotic diseases that need sustained intervention measures to mitigate further spread in Anambra State.
The participants were drawn from relevant Ministries, Agencies and Departments from the state under “One Health”collaborative approach.
They underscored the importance of deployment of effective communication tools to achieve desired results.
Rising from a Three Day Training on Zoonotic Diseases Risk Communication and Community Engagement, RCCE held in Awka with support from World Bank through REDISSE, participants affirmed their commitment to utilize knowledge garnered to influence social behavioural changes that could help control spread of the prioritised diseases.
Senior Health Educator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Michael Okali, explained that the training was all about building the capacity of sub- national stakeholders on how to create and develop messages that could be used during response to outbreaks.
“So they will be less dependent on messages that are being created by national stakeholders.
“We used a lot of scores,some tools to make sure that we come to conclusion based on severity,epidemiological factors so that we make sure we come to a conclusion that these three diseases are of priority in the state,” he said.
He added that next step would be to develop a report and findings from the training, gather stakeholders so as to disseminate the report to cause partners offer technical support and build a robust intervention system.
Earlier in a welcome remarks, the State Director of Public Health, Dr Afam Anieme, commended the organizers for considering the state worthy to stage the training and expressed optimism that the outcome would add value to the health system.
In a Goodwill Message, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Agency, Pharm Chisom Uchem noted that the training centred around risk communication would drive the goal of achieving One Health concept in the state.
“The Primary Health Care Centres(PHC’s) is about community ownership, engagement and participation,so the One Health approach will be felt in the Centres,” he said.
The training featured the state situation report presentations on Rabies, Monkey Pox and Lassa fever by Dr Chukwunonso Umeononigwe, Principal Veterinary Officer and Surveillance Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Theresa Nwafor, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Ministry of Environment and Dr Chuma Enembolu, State Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health.
Confidence Okwuchi
