Biosecurity: Lagos State Government Seeks Action Against Diseases Threat In Africa

As part of its response to fighting Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), the Lagos State Government has encouraged professionals and stakeholders across the health, agriculture, security, environment, civil society and development sectors to strengthen their health systems.

Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health, had stated this during a dinner that had been organised by Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium with the theme, “Partnership for a Bio secured Africa,” in Lagos.

“The best policy that will protect the health system is to recognise and value the role of nature in reducing systemic risks and mitigate the risk of future zoonotic disease outbreaks by addressing their root causes.

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“EIDs have led to pandemics and pandemics cause havoc. The intensity of EIDS is on the increase and as the African population quadruples in the next 50 years, Africa will be a continent of mega cities with major health, toxicity and biosecurity threats.”

He explained that practically, everything that is done in Africa affects water, which is an eco system on its own.

Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye, the Chief Operating Officer of GET Consortium, who had disclosed that drought, flooding, desertification and sea level rise are biosecurity threats in Nigeria, said that: “Infectious disease outbreaks are inevitable, but we can mitigate their effect through prevention and preparedness.”

With this, he re-affirmed the commitment in addressing the challenges of emerging disease in partnership with the state government with a strategic framework.