The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a three-pillar approach called ‘Strengthening and Utilising Response Groups for Emergencies (Surge)’ to prepare for, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks.
The initiative aims to improve readiness and coordination at all levels and has been launched in Yobe State, which is recovering from the Boko Haram insurgency and facing both human and natural disasters.
In 2022, 74 people were killed, 30,000 hectares of farmland were submerged by floods, and 35,000 households were displaced despite warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
The Yobe State Commissioner for Health welcomed the initiative but noted that the state still faces inadequate skilled human resources and limited logistics.
The ‘Surge’ initiative will be launched across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and develop the capacity of public health workers to respond swiftly and timely to all emergencies.
The initiative, launched across the six geopolitical zones of the country, is expected to develop the capacity of public health workers to respond swiftly and timely to all emergencies.
