Abuja: Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for a stronger ECOWAS health pact to address Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases threatening the region. Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, made the call on Thursday in Abidjan at a high-level panel on community involvement during the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference, convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference has the theme ‘Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.’ The conference seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).
Idris said that cross-border surveillance and coordinated response mechanisms were essential to tackle Lassa fever, which is endemic in several West African countries. He emphasized the need for an ECOWAS health pact that guarantees data sharing, joint preparedness, and pooled resources to fight these threats.
He also highlighted that community engagement remains the backbone of epidemic preparedness, noting that outbreaks often escalate into crises not solely due to the pathogen but also because of human factors such as trust, culture, and behaviour. Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s experience with Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever outbreaks, he underscored that communities should be viewed as the first line of defence in epidemic response.
Furthermore, Idris urged member states to support research and development for vaccines and diagnostics, invest in One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health, and provide dedicated funding for community-led preparedness initiatives.
NAN recalls that WAHO stated the Abidjan gathering would provide a platform for health ministers, scientists, and development partners to chart new strategies to address Lassa fever, which continues to cause thousands of deaths across the region annually.