The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has emphasized the crucial role of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in fortifying the country’s health system, describing it as the cornerstone of public health.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, underscored this during the inauguration of the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Technical Working Group in Abuja on Monday.
IPC is a practical, evidence-based approach aimed at preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections.
“IPC is the first line of defense against the spread of infectious diseases, safeguarding patients, healthcare workers, and the community at large,” Idris stated.
He added that IPC is essential for a resilient health system, crucial for providing high-quality and safe healthcare, and lies at the core of health emergency preparedness and response.
Nigeria has faced significant disease outbreaks, including Ebola, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, cholera, and the COVID-19 pandemic over the past decade.
These events have exposed gaps in IPC programs and highlighted the necessity for comprehensive infection prevention and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategies.
“Out of every 100 hospitalised patients globally, seven will acquire a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI), a risk that can be higher in settings like Nigeria,” Idris noted.
He stressed that the more ill and fragile patients become, the higher the risk of hospital-acquired infections and their potentially deadly consequences.
Idris pointed out that death rates can increase two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials.
“IPC offers proven solutions to mitigate this harm, avoiding incalculable suffering and costs to people and the health system,” he said.
Compelling evidence shows that up to 70 percent of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented by implementing effective IPC interventions.
“Investing in IPC is one of the most cost-effective measures available,” Idris added.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria demonstrated leadership in IPC by co-chairing the African Task Force for Coronavirus (AFTCOR) IPC Technical Working Group.
Idris explained that improving hand hygiene in healthcare settings can more than halve the risk of dying from infections with resistant pathogens and decrease long-term complications and health burdens by at least 40 percent.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, described IPC as a significant milestone in advancing health security and improving the quality of the health system in alignment with international health regulations and global strategies.
Mulombo emphasized the critical role of IPC in addressing outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19 and strengthening health systems.
He reiterated WHO’s readiness to support Nigeria with technical assistance and funding to implement IPC measures.
The inauguration of the National IPC Technical Working Group marks a step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to improving public health and ensuring the safety of its healthcare system.
