The Nigerian government has taken a Proactive Measures to Safeguard Public Health and unveils One Health Approach Against Potential Infectious Disease Threats in the country.
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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and also the Chairman of National One Health Steering Committee (NOHSC) Prof. Ali Pate, during the National One Health Steering Committee (NOHSC) meeting in Abuja the nations capital, emphasised on the critical importance of adopting a One Health approach to address public health vulnerabilities.
The objectives of the meeting was to discuss and provide guidance to the National One Health Technical Committee on the potential spill over of zoonotic diseases from fruit bats to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians and provide policy advice on research conducted on One Health priority pathogens.
“The initiative, unveiled on December 2, focuses on four pillars: governance, improving outcomes, unlocking value chain, and health security. The One Health approach is seen as a lens through which the government aims to tackle health security, recognizing it as a multisectoral issue,” he said.
Prof. Pate said, a One Health steering committee, comprising key ministries and relevant partners, has been established to coordinate efforts.
He stressed the interconnectedness of human and animal health, pointing out that 70% of emerging infectious diseases originate from the zoonotic space.
“Specific attention was drawn to the ongoing challenge posed by fruit bats, which have been exposed to infectious agents with the potential to cause large outbreaks,” he added.
The government, therefore, expressed its commitment to proactive measures, focusing on prevention rather than reactive responses after a crisis.
He said the government aims to discourage the practice of hunting fruit bats, emphasizing the potential risks to human health. Furthermore, efforts will be made to improve wildlife surveillance in the animal sector.
“In an effort to secure additional resources, Nigeria plans to submit an application to the pandemic fund, collaborating with other African countries to ensure a coherent, multisectoral push for global health security. I government urges media and civil society organizations to focus on prevention rather than waiting for crises to unfold,” he said.
Prof. Pate highlighted a shift in behavioral approaches, with the government advocating for proactive measures and collaboration across ministries.
“The goal is to prevent infectious disease threats, such as the spillover from fruit bats or other animal reservoirs, rather than reacting to crises. As the government aligns with global health security objectives, the collaborative effort seeks to guarantee Nigeria’s health security for the benefit of both the nation and the international community,” he added.
In a her presentation, the DG NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa who was represented by the head of Department for Surveillance and Epidemiology at NCDC, Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade shared findings from a joint risk assessment on bat-borne diseases.
The assessment revealed that bat colonies in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State, pose a moderate risk of zoonotic spillover to humans due to practices like capturing and consuming bats.
“The study identified potential exposure to pathogenic viruses, including Ebola and influenza, there is need for risk mitigation.
“The assessment, led by Dr. Myro from the Ministry of Agriculture, involved multiple ministries and stakeholders. It concluded that there is a moderate likelihood and impact of individuals being infected with zoonotic pathogens from bat-related activities in the next six months.”
Dr. Okunromade Recommended that there should be improve surveillance, conducting further research on bat behaviour and viruses, and raising awareness among communities engaging in bat-related practices.
The presentation stressed the importance of a One Health approach and proposed measures such as hand washing and wearing personal protective equipment to minimize transmission risks.
“The next steps outlined involve conducting neurological studies in selected states, launching awareness campaigns on the dangers of bats, and continuing research on serological and epidemiological aspects of bat-borne viruses,” he added.
Dr. Okunromade noted that the overall goal is to mitigate the risk of potential spill over of pathogenic viruses from bats to humans and to ensure continuous surveillance at the human-animal-environment interface.
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