By Rotimi Odofin
The Kogi State Government, through the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, has launched a one-day refresher training program to enhance the state’s readiness in Incident Management Systems and disease outbreak investigations.
In his opening remarks, the Health Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Steven Momoh Aziz, emphasized the necessity of the refresher training as the state faces potential flooding threats. This initiative is crucial to equip health workers with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively respond to and mitigate potential emergencies.
The Commissioner highlighted that this capacity-building program is timely, coinciding with the peak of the rainy season, when the risk of flooding is anticipated. He reiterated the vital role of the state Emergency Operations Center and its team in coordinating and responding to health emergencies. It is imperative that they possess the necessary skills and knowledge to address challenges arising from excess water and poor sanitation, which could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.
Earlier, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ojotule Augustine, noted that the refresher training aligns with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (NCDC) notification for preparedness for the 2025/2026 Lassa fever and cerebrospinal meningitis seasons. He added that the urgent call and provisions in the EOC work plan for implementing preparedness activities, as outlined in the NCDC BHCPF gateway, necessitate this refresher training for the core team on EOC operations and outbreak investigation.
Mr Rotimi Odofin Information Officer Ministry of Health Kogi State
