Every country has a national public health agency tasked with detecting and responding to new health threats. In the time of a disease outbreak, this agency plays a major role in providing up-to-date information and safeguarding public health through the control and prevention of the spread of the disease. This makes it the agency to look to for people seeking to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the disease.
Read more about NCDC
In Nigeria, the agency responsible for the control of communicable diseases is known as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The NCDC is an agency under the federal ministry of health and its headquarter is located in Abuja, Nigeria. The agency’s Chief Executive Officer is Chikwe Ihekweazu, an epidemiologist and public health physician.
History
The establishment of the NCDC took place in 2011 when some departments in the Federal Ministry Of Health, including the Epidemiology Division, the Avian Influenza Project and its laboratories; and the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP) branched off to form the nucleus of the agency. In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari made the official move to sign the bill for an act to establish the NCDC.
Scope
Today, the NCDC is an active body operating a total of 213 staff working across its locations, and led by a director-general. The members of staff work in six Directorates, four of which are Technical Directorates. These include:
1. Public Health Laboratory Services
2. Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management
3. Emergency Preparedness and Response
4. Surveillance and Epidemiology
5. Finance and Accounts
6. Administration and Human Resources
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The core functions of NCDC include:
- Prevent, detect, and control diseases of public health importance.
- Coordinate surveillance systems to collect, analyse and interpret data on diseases of public health importance.
- Support States in responding to small outbreaks, and lead the response to large disease outbreaks.
- Develop and maintain a network of reference and specialized laboratories.
- Conduct, collate, synthesize and disseminate public health research to inform policy.
- Lead Nigeria’s engagement with the international community on diseases of public health relevance.
Since the first index case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in Nigeria, the NCDC has arguably done an impressive job in curbing the spread of the disease. The body has been consistent in key areas where other core agencies and administrations in the country have fallen short.
We can improve our efforts to prepare and protect ourselves during these uncertain times by referring to the website of the NCDC for guidance. There, we will find relevant and up-to-date coronavirus-related information. The NCDC is also on Twitter.
If you think you may have had any contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 or are experiencing symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, and cough, contact the NCDC via:
NCDC Toll-free Number: 080097000010
SMS: 08099555577
Whatsapp: 07087110839
Mobile: 07036708970
Sources:
Wikipedia
NCDC
Featured Image Source: The Sun NG
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