The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) has called on the federal government to adopt a comprehensive 10-point plan designed to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging infectious diseases.
The professional body is advocating for the establishment of a coordinated national epidemic-readiness framework to replace current ad-hoc response methods. This framework, according to the Academy, must be institutionalised and made functional across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement regarding the proposal, the Academy emphasised that preparedness should be a permanent component of the national health security architecture, subject to regular assessments rather than being triggered only during an active outbreak.
Implementation of national epidemic framework
The proposed 10-point plan focuses on creating a structured approach to disease surveillance, rapid response, and resource allocation. NAPHARM argues that existing gaps in the healthcare system leave the country vulnerable to the rapid transmission of highly infectious viruses if a coordinated framework is not prioritised.
A key component of the Academy’s recommendation is the decentralisation of epidemic management. The Academy noted that for a response to be effective, each state must possess the requisite infrastructure, trained personnel, and pharmaceutical supplies to manage local outbreaks before they escalate into national emergencies.
The plan also calls for the strengthening of laboratory capacities and the security of pharmaceutical supply chains. NAPHARM highlighted the critical role that pharmacy professionals play in managing the distribution of essential medicines and vaccines during a crisis, suggesting that these logistics must be part of a pre-planned national strategy.
Nigeria has previously navigated various public health crises, including outbreaks of Lassa fever and COVID-19, which tested the limits of the country’s surveillance and primary healthcare systems. The Academy’s call for institutionalisation suggests that the lessons from these crises must be codified into a permanent, funded, and regularly audited system.
By integrating epidemic preparedness into the annual budgets of both federal and state health ministries, NAPHARM aims to ensure that disease surveillance and readiness are not subject to the fluctuations of emergency-only funding. This would allow for the maintenance of stockpiles and the continuous training of medical staff.
The federal government has yet to issue a formal response to the specific points raised in the NAPHARM proposal.
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