- The Federal Ministry of Health inaugurated a national Infection Prevention and Control Technical Working Group to enhance healthcare safety in Nigeria
- Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate highlighted that 44% of hospitalized patients acquire healthcare-associated infections, costing the country significant human and economic resources
The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), inaugurated a national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Technical Working Group on Monday to enhance healthcare safety across the country.
The committee’s members were drawn from various agencies of the ministry, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and NCDC, as well as international organizations such as AFENET.
During the inauguration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted the significant threat posed by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to the health and well-being of Nigerians. He noted that these infections, caused by various pathogens, can lead to severe complications, extended hospital stays, and even death.
“A recent study revealed that approximately 44% of patients admitted to the country’s hospitals acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay,” Pate said. “The human and economic costs are substantial, calculated to cost USD 715 per episode, draining vital resources and funds that could be channelled towards other critical aspects of our health system. The burden of healthcare-associated infections extends beyond financial implications, as it represents a threat to the health and productive years of our citizens, affecting the quality of life for countless families and healthcare workers.”
Pate also mentioned that the recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE) conducted in Nigeria indicated that while the country has made significant progress in infection prevention and control, strategic areas still need strengthening. The JEE highlighted the need to continue improving infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities and recommended the establishment of the National IPC Technical Working Group as one of the key actions to take.
The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, emphasized that compelling evidence shows up to 70% of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented by implementing effective IPC interventions. Represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, he stated, “Infection prevention and control, or IPC, is not merely a set of protocols but is the cornerstone of public health and the bedrock upon which a resilient health system is built.”
Idris further pointed out that over the last decade, major outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, cholera, and the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated how rapidly infections can spread through communities and be amplified in healthcare settings. “These events have exposed gaps in our IPC programmes and highlighted the necessity for comprehensive infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategies. No patient seeking care should be infected while receiving it, and no healthcare worker should risk infection while providing care,” he added.