Lagos State is internet hosting the tenth African Convention on One Well being and Biosecurity, bringing collectively world consultants, policymakers, and stakeholders to deal with Africa’s preparedness towards world well being threats.
The 2-day convention is organised by the International Rising Pathogens Therapy Consortium (GET) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Well being.
In line with an announcement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the convention centres on Africa’s preparedness towards world well being threats, with the theme: “From Ebola to COVID-19 and Past: Strengthening Africa’s Capability to Tackle Rising International Well being Safety Threats.”
Talking on the opening ceremony Wednesday, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised the state’s dedication to strengthening healthcare infrastructure to guard towards biosecurity dangers.
“Lagos – with its dense, quickly rising inhabitants – is very prone to infectious outbreaks,” Mr Sanwo-Olu mentioned.
“It’s crucial we improve our biosecurity readiness, not only for ourselves, however as a mannequin for the continent.”
One Well being strategy
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In his remarks, Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, harassed the necessity for one well being strategy to well being safety in Africa, integrating human, animal, and environmental well being to forestall and handle illnesses.
Mr Fashola emphasised the necessity for proactive planning to deal with well being and environmental challenges in Africa.
He noticed that Africa’s speedy urbanisation and inhabitants development heighten its vulnerability to biosecurity threats, stressing the necessity for proactive planning to deal with well being and environmental challenges.
Mr Fashola appealed for extra funding in well being analysis and data-driven insurance policies, arguing that evidence-based methods are essential for efficient biosecurity administration.
He said that Africa’s resilience depends on localised options tailor-made to its challenges, reiterating his dedication to supporting initiatives that prioritise the well-being and safety of African communities.
Native manufacturing of medical provides
The Governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, in his remarks, highlighted the necessity to strengthen Africa’s well being and financial methods to keep away from destabilisation throughout outbreaks.
Represented by the Director of Medical Service on the CBN, Adenike Ojumu, Mr Cardoso advocated for native manufacturing of important medical provides and infrastructure improvement.
He emphasised the significance of public-private collaboration in making a self-sufficient well being sector in Africa.
Talking on the position of monetary sources in well being safety, particularly throughout crises, he shared that the CBN had offered focused healthcare analysis and improvement grants, in addition to sector intervention services, throughout COVID-19 to develop infrastructure and produce vital medical provides.
Mr Cardoso additional underscored the significance of financial resilience by way of diversification, noting {that a} diversified financial system is much less susceptible to exterior shocks. He inspired African central banks to advertise diversification, significantly in expertise, agriculture, and manufacturing, and to foster digital monetary inclusion.
He additionally referred to as for strengthened regional collaboration and inclusive insurance policies to mitigate the affect of pandemics on susceptible populations.
Lagos’ biodiversity
The Lagos State Commissioner for Well being, Akin Abayomi, addressed the twin nature of biosecurity threats, emphasising each gradual environmental degradation and sudden pandemics.
“We face the danger of zoonotic illnesses day by day,” he cautioned, warning that pathogens like Ebola and COVID-19 reveal the worldwide disaster potential of well being dangers.
Mr Abayomi identified that Lagos’ biodiversity and animal populations create fixed zoonotic dangers, explaining that the majority pandemics are transmitted from animals to people.
“There are numerous viruses with pandemic potential. Our duty is to be vigilant,” he said, underscoring Lagos’ surveillance and biosecurity partnerships.
The commissioner harassed that Nigeria’s alarming deforestation charge amplifies local weather change and biosecurity dangers.
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“Environmental degradation is a biosecurity situation because it straight impacts well being stability,” he defined, urging actions to guard pure sources.
Mr Abayomi linked climate-induced migration with well being threats, noting that megacities like Lagos face elevated vulnerability attributable to speedy urbanisation.
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