The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over eight utility vehicles to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency health response.
The donation is a key milestone in the ongoing Avoca Surge flagship initiative, designed to improve rapid health emergency response across Africa.
At the handover ceremony in Abuja, WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, described the move as a critical step towards building a robust public health response system nationwide.
Dr Mulombo said the initiative, a collaboration between the WHO African Region and the Africa CDC, aims to establish a multidisciplinary, trained workforce that can respond to health emergencies within 24 hours.
“This gesture is more than symbolic. It is a practical investment into emergency operations, logistics, risk communication, and workforce development — four pillars of the Avoca Surge initiative,” he stated.
He praised the FCT’s swift containment of recent outbreaks, particularly the diphtheria outbreak, which was managed within a week due to early activation of response teams and strong leadership.
The WHO representative also commended the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and development partners for their commitment to health security.
“Africa experiences over 100 health emergencies annually. This initiative ensures countries like Nigeria can respond rapidly and effectively, minimising loss of life and safeguarding public safety,” he added.
Pledging additional assistance
Dr Mulombo reaffirmed WHO’s continued support, pledging additional technical and logistical assistance. He said similar interventions are being planned for five other pilot states.
Speaking at the event, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, underlined the importance of disease surveillance and proactive preparedness.
Dr Fasawe thanked the WHO and partners for their backing and stressed that preparedness goes beyond crisis response.
“It requires continuous surveillance, teamwork, and tested protocols. I’m very happy the NCDC and Africa CDC are here. Since the onset of this renewed hope administration, we’ve worked together to quash epidemics using data and technology,” she said.
She described disease surveillance as the backbone of public health, vital for early detection, rapid response, and prevention of widespread harm.
Partnerships are essential
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said partnerships are essential for strengthening Nigeria’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
He noted that health security demands strong surveillance, data tracking, timely response, and skilled personnel deployment.
Dr Idris revealed the NCDC is currently managing eight ongoing public health emergencies, but flagged resource and workforce constraints as major challenges.
He applauded WHO and the Africa CDC for their continued support, particularly in providing surge staff and technical assistance.
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