Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for a stronger ECOWAS health pact to address Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases threatening the region.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, made the call on Thursday in Abidjan at a high-level panel on community involvement during the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference, convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
The conference has the theme “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases”.
It seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).
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Idris said that cross-border surveillance and coordinated response mechanisms were essential to tackle Lassa fever, which is endemic in several West African countries.
“Viruses do not respect borders. Our surveillance and our responses must, therefore, transcend borders.
“We need an ECOWAS health pact that guarantees data sharing, joint preparedness, and pooled resources to fight these threats,” he said.
Idris emphasised that community engagement remained the backbone of epidemic preparedness, stressing that “outbreaks often escalate into crises not because of the pathogen alone but due to human factors such as trust, culture, and behaviour.”
He highlighted lessons from Nigeria’s experience with Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever outbreaks, stating that communities were not the “last mile” but the first line of defence in epidemic response.
According to him, “early detection, risk communication, and culturally sensitive interventions are critical to reducing mortality and preventing large-scale transmission.”
He also urged member states to support research and development for vaccines and diagnostics, invest in One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health, and provide dedicated funding for community-led preparedness initiatives.
WAHO said the Abidjan gathering would provide a platform for health ministers, scientists, and development partners to chart new strategies to address Lassa fever, which continues to cause thousands of deaths across the region annually.
NAN