JEE Report Shows Progress In FCT Public Health Security

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to strengthening public health security following the release of the updated Joint External Evaluation (JEE) report.

The report, presented at a dissemination workshop held in Abuja, revealed significant strides made by the FCT in the prevention, detection, and response to public health threats since the initial evaluation in 2017.

Delivering remarks at the event, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasewe, represented by Dr. Babagana Adam emphasised the critical role of evaluation in advancing the territory’s health security capacities.

Dr. Fasewe highlighted that the JEE provides a rare opportunity to critically assess current systems, identify gaps, and craft strategic recommendations aimed at bolstering resilience to public health threats.

“This workshop serves as an essential platform to share these findings transparently, discuss their implications comprehensively, and strategize collaboratively towards meaningful action,” Dr. Fasewe stated.

He stressed that the JEE is not merely a diagnostic exercise but a strategic roadmap for strengthening public health systems within the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to translating the evaluation’s recommendations into actionable outcomes and urged all stakeholders to actively engage in this transformative process.

“Our collective resilience depends on our ability to act decisively and collaboratively. We must work together to build a safer, healthier, and more resilient FCT,” he added.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), represented by Dr. Fatima Sali commended the FCT Administration for its evident commitment and progress.

He noted that the JEE report should be viewed not as an end but as a tool for action, a catalyst for developing a strategic roadmap to close the identified gaps and consolidate the gains.

“The NCDC remains committed to supporting the FCT in developing its State Action Plan for Health Security, which will guide the territory’s ongoing efforts to improve public health systems,” he affirmed.

Based on the JEE report, the FCT has recorded substantial improvements across key health security indicators between 2017 and 2023.

According to the report, the prevention of health threats improved from 39% in 2017 to 50% in 2023.while detection of health threats increased from 51% to 58%.

The report also said that response to public health threats rose from 37% to 51% while addressing IHR-related hazards and Points of Entry (PoE) advanced from 37% to an impressive 63%.

It emphasized that despite the progress, the report identified several areas requiring further attention, including suboptimal inter-sectoral collaboration, inadequate policies and strategic plans, limited laboratory capacity, and human resource gaps.

In response, the FCTA has already initiated targeted programs such as intensified routine immunization efforts and annual human resource gap analyses to address these challenges.

The dissemination workshop brought together public health stakeholders, development partners, and sectoral experts, all committed to translating the JEE findings into a robust, actionable agenda.

Participants were encouraged to share insights, propose innovative solutions, and prioritize collaborative efforts that would further strengthen the FCT’s public health architecture.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji