By John Odunayo
THE Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Protection, Dr Jide Idris, has hailed the strategies being deployed in Ekiti State in managing disease outbreak.
The NCDC DG also commended Ekiti State Government for operating one of the best Emergency Operation Centres in Nigeria.
Idris spoke during his visit to the State Emergency Operation Centre, State Ministry of Health, Ado-Ekiti.
He said, “I’m indeed impressed by what I’m seeing here. Ekiti is doing exactly what we are doing in Abuja. If all the states are doing what you are doing here, we will have no fear of managing any diseases outbreak”.
He assured the state of its continued support and productive collaboration with Ekiti State for better treatment and management of any diseases outbreak.
Idris said, “We will give priority to the Zonal Laboratory in the state and your EBS Centre”.
Speaking after the presentation made by the State Epidemiologist, Mrs Bosede Alowooye, the NCDC DG said that he was impressed by the level of preparation, surveillance and management of disease outbreaks in the state.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, speaking while receiving the NCDC boss in his office, appreciated him for his commitment to helping to revitalize the Zonal Public Health Laboratory and the Emergency Operation Centre in the state.
Oyebanji assured the DG of the state’s continuous collaboration with the agency in its efforts at tackling public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said that the state had put in place best strategies in managing disease outbreaks.
Filani said that the strategies have earned Ekiti State award for best state on disease surveillance in 2021 and 2022.
The Commissioner expressed the Oyebanji administration’s commitment to delivering good and quality healthcare services to the good people of Ekiti State.
Other places visited during the working visit of the NCDC DG were Zonal Public Health Laboratory at the Ekiti University Teaching Hospital, Isolation Center at the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital and the State Ministry of Health.
Top officials present during the NCDC DG’s working visit included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun; her counterpart at Hospital’s Management Board, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi; Director General SPHCDA, Dr Ayodele Seluwa; CMD EKSUTH, Prof. Kayode Olabanji; and Dr Deji Ipinwere among others.
