By Rotimi Odofin
The Kogi State Government has officially inaugurated an 18-member Emergency Preparedness and Response Technical Committee to enhance the state’s health sector’s capacity to swiftly implement emergency services during disease outbreaks. Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the State Coordinating Commissioner for Health, led the inauguration, outlining the committee’s terms of reference to ensure effective emergency and technical responses when necessary.
Dr. Adeiza emphasized the critical role of the committee in the state government’s efforts to prevent disease outbreaks and address public health challenges. He highlighted that the committee’s functions are essential for maintaining focus and efficiently utilizing scarce resources to manage public health emergencies. The Commissioner urged the committee to collaborate with other relevant agencies to achieve shared objectives in managing public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
Dr. Adeiza expressed gratitude to Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for fostering a supportive environment for all state health workers, particularly those on the front lines, enabling them to perform their duties diligently. He also acknowledged the support and cooperation of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) extended to the state’s health sector.
The Commissioner called on the Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee to commence its activities immediately to ensure adequate preparation and prompt response as the state approaches the regular outbreak season of diseases such as Lassa fever, measles, and meningitis.
In his overview of the Emergency Preparedness and Response/Public Health Emergency Management (EPR/PHEM) Technical Committee, Dr. Ojotule Augustine, the state epidemiologist, stressed the importance of the committee’s work in preventing duplication of efforts. He underscored the primary objective of establishing a coordinated approach to managing public health emergencies.
A unified command structure will be coordinated by the Director of Public Health under the leadership of Dr. Francis Akpa. Dr. Ojotule Augustine, the State Epidemiologist, will serve as the committee’s secretary.
