Ekiti State Intensifies Investment in Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Ekiti State authorities have once again affirmed their dedication to consistently funding emergency readiness, personnel training, and strengthening institutional capabilities. This strategic focus aims to establish a robust health system, well-equipped to tackle both new and recurring infectious disease outbreaks.

Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, emphasized that equipping emergency personnel with essential skills is vital for safeguarding public health and guaranteeing a streamlined approach during disease outbreaks. Speaking in Ado Ekiti at a three-day Basic Level Public Health Emergency Management training tailored for health professionals, Dr. Filani's remarks were delivered by Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health. This information was released in a statement on Monday.

The ministry orchestrated this training initiative with the goal of enhancing the state's proficiency in anticipating and efficiently addressing disease outbreaks and other urgent public health situations. In his address, Dr. Filani stated, "The state government is unwavering in its resolve to bolster Ekiti’s public health security framework through ongoing capacity building, forging strategic alliances, and implementing institutional changes." He further added, "This particular undertaking aligns perfectly with the state government's dedication to adhering to national and international best practices in public health emergency readiness, simultaneously fostering enhanced cooperation among health sector participants at both state and local government tiers."

Dr. Olasunkanmi Alabi, Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, noted that the program would further empower health officials and elevate the state's readiness for public health crises. Meanwhile, Dr. Akintunde Ogunsakin, the Executive Secretary for the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, encouraged all attendees to fully utilize the insights acquired from the training in their professional duties.

Dr. Charles Doherty, General Manager of the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme, alongside Dr. Abayomi Ibrahim, the Director of Public Health, both lauded the state government for organizing the capacity-building initiative, branding the training as both opportune and crucial.

Earlier, Dr. Bosede Alowooye, the State Epidemiologist, explained that this training is an integral component of the government's continuous investment aimed at developing a resilient and responsive public health emergency management infrastructure. She elaborated, stating, "The curriculum for this program was specifically crafted to furnish public health professionals with the necessary competencies to oversee preparedness, response, recovery efforts, and effective risk communication during public health emergencies." Dr. Alowooye highlighted, "This training stands as one of several strategic readiness activities implemented by the ministry in 2026 to bolster the state's emergency response capabilities."

She also recalled that prior to this, the ministry had conducted a simulation exercise for the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to evaluate the state’s systems for responding to viral haemorrhagic fevers. Furthermore, she mentioned that a thorough review of the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Handbook, backed by the Sector-Wide Approach Disbursement Linked Indicator 9, succeeded the simulation. The attendees, she noted, comprised Public Health Emergency Operations Centre pillar leads, watch staff, members of the State Rapid Response Team, and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers from various Local Government Areas. Participants, she confirmed, were instructed on the fundamental principles of public health emergency management, encompassing emergency coordination, incident management systems, planning for preparedness, integrating surveillance, logistics, information handling, and response coordination.