The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says high specimen transportation costs, reporting inconsistencies, and weak data validation systems are delaying the detection and response to Lassa fever cases in some states.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of NCDC, made this statement during an interview with reporters on Monday in Abuja.
Idris explained that transporting samples from remote communities to state laboratories remains expensive and logistically challenging, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
He added that transporting specimens from local areas to state hospitals is costly, and issues like fuel prices and transportation challenges impact turnaround time.
“While zonal laboratories have improved testing turnaround times compared to previous years, performance varies across states. Some states are doing better than others. We monitor parameters such as detection timelines, reporting within 24 hours, and response within 48 hours, as part of the 7-1-7 surveillance benchmark.”
The 7-1-7 target refers to detecting suspected cases within seven days, reporting within one day, and initiating a response within seven days.
He noted that although the NCDC coordinates nationally through its Incident Management System (IMS), outbreak control ultimately depends on state-level execution.
“If states do not coordinate properly, there will be chaos. Case management is done at the hospital level. Doctors are there, but the system must function,” he said.
Idris also raised concerns about parallel reporting systems, revealing that some teaching hospitals have confirmed cases without reporting them to state authorities.
“In one instance, suspected cases were recorded in a teaching hospital, with one confirmed case, but the state government was not informed. This created a gap in surveillance,” he said.
He also explained that discrepancies sometimes arise when different institutions collect data independently, leading to variations between federal and state figures.
“We rely on validated data. If information is circulated without proper validation, it paints an inaccurate picture and can cause confusion,” he said.
Idris added that connectivity challenges and limited resources at the facility level also affect real-time reporting.
“In some facilities, poor internet connectivity or lack of funds to procure data hinder reporting. These are operational realities that affect reporting timelines,” he said.
Regarding community response, he stated that awareness materials were disseminated in local languages, but funding for sustained engagement remains limited in some states.
He stressed that outbreak control requires strong dialogue with state health commissioners and improved coordination between state governments and tertiary institutions.
“We must ensure data flows through the proper reporting channels. Without accurate data, response efforts are weakened,” he said.
He concluded that while federal authorities provide coordination and technical support, effective outbreak containment requires ownership at the state level.
“We do our best, but the response cannot succeed without state-level support and validated data,” he added.
