By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that stakeholders in the health sector have identified Lassa Fever, Anthrax, Avian Influenza, Rabies, and M -Pox as priority diseases in need of critical attention in Niger State.
The stakeholders from the Ministries of Health, Livestock, and Fisheries, and Environment stated this at a 3-day workshop on Priority Diseases, Risk Communication and Community Engagement, held in Minna, the Niger State capital.
According to a statement issued by the Information Officer at the Niger State Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Muhammad Sani Abubakar, the training organized by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) in conjunction with other critical partners including the media, is aimed at proffering solutions to zoonotic diseases through the One Health Concept(OH).
“The prioritization program strives to draw the attention of Health Disease Surveillance Officers, Environmental Officers, and Livestock and Veterinary Officials to assist States and LGAs to come up with areas of collaboration to downplay the effects and underlying threats of the disease.”
In his remark, the Director of Public Health, Niger State Ministry of Health, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Abbas Liman stated that the training not only provides a forum for stakeholders at the subnational levels to interact and prioritize zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to the State’s public health but will enlighten the public about high-risk diseases.
Similarly, Dr. Patrick Gimba, the State Epidemiologist, affirmed that engagement strategies in the Zoonotic Diseases Prioritization Program must be in tandem with environmental measures.
He, therefore, called for more synergy among the one Health Triad to make the initiative work effectively.
