WHO Donates 8 Utility Vehicles To FCTA For Health Emergencies

The World Health Organisation has donated eight utility vehicles to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Health Services, and Environment Secretariat.

At the event in Abuja, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo said marked an important milestone in collective efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Dr  Mulombo noted that the gesture was in support of Strengthening and Utilising Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE) Flagship Initiative.

”These vehicles, procured with the generous support of WHO, are intended to enhance the operational capacity of the FCT Public Health Emergency Response System,”Dr Mulombo said,

” This handover is part of the Strengthening and Utilising Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE) flagship initiative, which aims to bolster health emergency preparedness and response within the FCT.”

According to him, ”The FCT is one of six states selected to pioneer the SURGE implementation in Nigeria, these vehicles will enhance the FCT’s mobility and rapid deployment capacity for emergency teams, ensuring that critical personnel, supplies, and response efforts reach affected communities swiftly and efficiently.”

He emphasized that the event reflects WHO’s continued commitment to working hand-in-hand with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen national and sub-national capacity for health emergency preparedness and response.

”We know too well that Africa continues to experience more than 100 health emergencies annually, ranging from disease outbreaks and natural disasters to conflict-driven crises.”

” The COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola, cholera, Lassa fever, and recent anthrax and diphtheria outbreaks have tested our systems and exposed gaps that need urgent attention especially in the areas of coordination, mobility, workforce readiness, and logistics.”

In a message to the event, the Africa CDC Director General, Dr Jean Kaseya expressed the optimism that the vehicles would further contribute to the efforts of Nigeria through NCDC to better prevent, detect, and respond promptly and effectively to the ongoing outbreaks and emerging outbreaks in the country.

”Africa CDC pledges its continued support in collaboration with our life partner, as WR has said, WHO, and other partners within the region and the country to continue to strengthen the National Public Health Institutes and the Ministry of Health in Nigeria.”

”I congratulate the Director General, Dr. Idris, and the FCT for this handing over, and like the WR has said, this is just the beginning of many more strides to make in the efforts towards strengthening detection, prevention, and control of public health outbreaks,”he added.

On his part, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idriss who commended the WHO and other Development partners for the support, expressed the hope that  all the other states will take a cue and start preparing for emergencies.

”A major focus in this year globally now is emergency preparedness response. And the focus in these countries at a sub-national level is states and local government areas.”

”So this is a huge task, but with partners like WHO and others, I think we continue to do our best for the people of Nigeria. thank you very much, he added.

While receiving the vehicles, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted that preparedness includes surveillance, teamwork,  group work, and being able to activate certain protocols that have been practiced as well as  trained on over the years.

“Surveillance is the backbone of public health. It enables early detection, swift response, and prevention of disease outbreaks. We must continue to strengthen our systems through collaboration, technology, and data-driven decision-making,” she said.

”We have been able to quash epidemics. We have been able to work as a team with data and with technology to prevent outbreaks.”

According to Dr Fasawe,” As we continue to face emerging and re-emerging health threats, it is imperative that we prioritize robust surveillance systems to protect our communities. Like I said earlier, disease surveillance is the backbone of public health. It helps us to detect outbreaks early.”

Dr. Fasawe promised that the new vehicles would enhance the FCT’s surveillance and emergency response efforts, especially in hard-to-reach areas, thereby safeguarding public health.