This statement was made on Sunday in Abuja during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by NCDC Director General Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
According to NAN, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the NCDC Act into law in November 2018, enhancing the agency's ability to prevent, identify, and respond to infectious diseases by giving it a legal foundation.
The NCDC created a thorough strategic plan (2017–2021) that outlined its goals and plans of action for improving research and knowledge management, emergency response, laboratory capacity, and disease surveillance.
Adetifa stated that the agency has strengthened disease surveillance, emergency response, laboratory capacity, public health education, international cooperation, and epidemic preparedness with exceptional success since its founding.
The NCDC has made significant progress in improving disease surveillance throughout Nigeria, which has made it possible to identify and contain illness outbreaks quickly.
He said that "this has played a crucial role in controlling infectious diseases like meningitis, cholera, and Lassa fever."
He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic in especially, the NCDC has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in emergency response.
"The organization assumed the lead in organizing the nationwide reaction, enabling testing, locating contacts, and offering advice to medical professionals and the public.
He declared, "Our efforts have played a crucial role in lessening the pandemic's impact in Nigeria."
He stated that the NCDC has actively participated in public health education through campaigns, social media platforms, and partnerships with media sources, realizing the value of raising public awareness.
"By providing crucial information on illness prevention, symptoms, and the importance of seeking early medical attention, we have enabled Nigerians to make knowledgeable decisions about their health," he stated.
He claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are two international organizations with which the NCDC has cultivated fruitful partnerships.
"By facilitating technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge exchange, these collaborations have improved Nigeria's public health status and fortified its response capacities.
"The agency has also developed and implemented national guidelines, protocols, and response plans for several infectious diseases, making substantial progress in epidemic preparedness.
He said, "They have tested response and readiness through simulation exercises, positioning Nigeria to effectively manage future outbreaks."
He stated that the NCDC was essential in helping to coordinate Nigeria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic by supplying data and technical know-how to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, which helped to support evidence-based decision-making.
He said, "The NCDC ensured compliance with global health requirements through regular after-action reviews, simulation exercises, joint external evaluations, and reporting to the WHO as the country's International Health Regulations national focal point."
He noted that in order to improve Nigeria's ability to prevent, identify, and handle public health catastrophes, the agency created the five-year National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS).
In order to address the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, we also introduced the One Health Strategic Plan, he stated.
He revealed that the NCDC hired 500 people in 2021, a considerable increase from the less than 100 employees in 2016, improving the organization's ability to handle crises and disease outbreaks.
He noted that the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), a cutting-edge facility for identifying infectious diseases of national and worldwide relevance, including COVID-19, was built and put into operation by the agency.
"The NCDC established over 145 molecular laboratories nationwide to enhance testing capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling timely and accurate diagnosis."
"The NCDC was chosen as part of the Regional response in cooperation with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID)," he stated.
Adetifa stated that the NCDC has proven its dedication to safeguarding Nigerians' health by legislative achievements, capacity building, laboratory strengthening, and an efficient response to the COVID-19 epidemic.
According to him, these accomplishments demonstrated the agency's crucial role in guaranteeing the nation's public health security and readiness.