The federal government of Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called for a stronger commitment to regional health security through policy reforms and enhanced collaboration.

This effort coincides with the establishment of a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) for the Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) by ECOWAS.

The initiative aims to bolster disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and coordinated responses to public health threats across West Africa.

At the inaugural TAC workshop held in Abuja on Wednesday, stakeholders from the region, including public health experts, community leaders, and representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), gathered to discuss strategies for enhancing regional health resilience.

Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Mr Pate, represented by the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, emphasised the growing threat of disease outbreaks in the region.

He pointed out that factors such as climate change, rapid urbanisation, and humanitarian crises were contributing to the increasing vulnerability.

Additionally, he highlighted how systemic weaknesses within healthcare infrastructures were also exacerbating these risks.

“These challenges underscore the need for stronger regional cooperation and preparedness in tackling emerging public health threats.

“Public health security is a regional imperative. Our collective experiences remind us that our resilience depends on the strength of our shared systems, mutual trust, and our capacity for rapid, coordinated action,” he said.

Mr Pate reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to health sector transformation through initiatives such as the National Health Sector Renewal Initiative Programme (NHSRIP) and the Health Workforce Migration Policy.

He said these programmes were designed to address workforce shortages in the healthcare sector.

He also mentioned the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which aimed to improve healthcare access across the country.

“These efforts reflect Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening its healthcare system and ensuring better services for its population.”

Mamadou Diarrassouba, executive director of the ECOWAS RCSDC, emphasised the need to reinforce health systems in light of recent disease outbreaks.

Represented by Sani Adamu, Mr Diarrassouba pointed out that the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of robust surveillance and rapid response mechanisms.

“In response, ECOWAS established the RCSDC to identify, assess, and respond to health threats.

“To support this mandate, a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) has been created to provide scientific and technical guidance, ensuring that the centre’s programmes are evidence-based and aligned with regional and global health priorities,” he said.

Mr Diarrassouba urged TAC members to collaborate, share expertise, and equip the ECOWAS RCSDC with the latest technical knowledge to strengthen the region’s health security.

(NAN)