Lagos government seeks action against biosecurity, diseases threat in Africa

Lagos State Government has urged professionals and stakeholders across health, agriculture, security, environment, civil society and development sectors to strengthen their health systems for effective deployment responses against Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID).

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated this at a dinner organised by Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium with the theme, “Partnership for a Bio secured Africa,” in Lagos.

He said: “The best policy that will protect the health system is to recognise and value the role of nature in reducing systemic risks and mitigate the risk of future zoonotic disease outbreaks by addressing their root causes.

“EIDs have led to pandemics and pandemics cause havoc. The intensity of EIDS is on the increase and as the African population quadruples in the next 50 years, Africa will be a continent of mega cities with major health, toxicity and biosecurity threats.”

He further noted that basically, everything done in Africa affects water table, which is an eco system on its own.

Chief Operating Officer of GET Consortium, Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, who disclosed that drought, flooding, desertification and sea level rise are biosecurity threats in Nigeria, said: “Infectious disease outbreaks are inevitable, but we can mitigate their effect through prevention and preparedness.”

He, therefore, re-affirmed commitment to address challenges of emerging disease in partnership with the state government with a strategic framework.