Experts on Tuesday raised concerns over the lack of a unified system for reporting diphtheria data in Nigeria.
The experts made this known while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja.
Dr Gabriel Adakole, a Public Health experts said the absence of a centralised database, makes it difficult to accurately track and monitor the spread of the disease.
Adakole also said that this, hinfers effective response and prevention efforts in the country.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Prevention Control(NCDC), performs all functions related to data management (acquisition, archiving, inventorying, and quality assessments), data synthesis (climate description, monitoring, modelling, and prediction), and data and information dissemination and publication.
“The World Health Organisation(WHO), is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
“The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), is to develop and implement policies that strengthen the national health system for effective, efficient, accessible and affordable delivery of health services in partnership with other stakeholders,” he explained.
The expert said:”these agencies have reported different data from the ongoing diphtheria outbreak in the country”.
A virologist and Chairman of the Board of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited (BVNL), Prof. Oyewale Tomori, said that data was vital in public health emergencies beacuse it enables early detection, informed decision-making, resource allocation, planning, monitoring, and effective communication.
Tomori said that having access to accurate and timely data enhances the ability to respond to emergencies, save lives, and protect communities.
