From Ebola to COVID-19: emergency preparedness and response plans and actions in Lagos, Nigeria

Abayomi, Akin, Balogun, Mobolanle R., Bankole, Munir, Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi ORCID: 0000-0002-4449-0131, Mutiu, Bamidele, Olawepo, John, Senjobi, Morakinyo, Odukoya, Oluwakemi, Aladetuyi, Lanre, Ejekam, Chioma, Folarin, Akinsanya, Emmanuel, Madonna, Amodu, Funke, Ologun, Adesoji, Olusanya, Abosede, Bakare, Moses, Alabi, Abiodun, Abdus-Salam, Ismail, Erinosho, Eniola, Bowale, Abimbola, Omilabu, Sunday, Saka, Babatunde, Osibogun, Akin, Wright, Ololade, Idris, Jide and Ogunsola, Folasade (2021) From Ebola to COVID-19: emergency preparedness and response plans and actions in Lagos, Nigeria. Globalization and Health, 17 (1). ISSN 1744-8603

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Abstract

Background: Lagos state is the industrial nerve centre of Nigeria and was the epicentre of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria as it is now for the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This paper describes how the lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in 2014 informed the emergency preparedness of the State ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak and guided response. Discussion: Following the Ebola outbreak in 2014, the Lagos State government provided governance by developing a policy on emergency preparedness and biosecurity and provided oversight and coordination of emergency preparedness strategies. Capacities for emergency response were strengthened by training key staff, developing a robust surveillance system, and setting up a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory and biobank. Resource provision, in terms of finances and trained personnel for emergencies was prioritized by the government. With the onset of COVID-19, Lagos state was able to respond promptly to the outbreak using the centralized Incident Command Structure and the key activities of the Emergency Operations Centre. Contributory to effective response were partnerships with the private sectors, community engagement and political commitment. Conclusion: Using the lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Lagos State had gradually prepared its healthcare system for a pandemic such as COVID-19. The State needs to continue to expand its preparedness to be more resilient and future proof to respond to disease outbreaks. Looking beyond intra-state gains, lessons and identified best practices from the past and present should be shared with other states and countries.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Authors
Divisions:	LSE Health
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	10 Aug 2021 09:06
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 02:37
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/111573

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