NACA: STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH IN NIGERIA, THE IMPACT OF EVENT BASED SURVEILLANCE (EBS)

In a groundbreaking initiative, Office Machines Nigeria Limited successfully implemented an Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) system across the 12 states, representing six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The project is designed to enhance public health surveillance capabilities. The initiative encompasses deployment of best-of-breed systems: asterisks-now based solutions, servers and network-based devices.

It marks a significant step towards prevention and protection from communicable diseases through early detection of disease outbreaks. EBS has enabled health authorities to monitor unusual events or patterns that may indicate a public health threat, thereby foster swift responses to contain the spread of diseases. This early warning system has been effective in facilitating the deployment of resources and implementation of control measures to prevent further transmission of diseases.

Moreover, EBS has proven to be a cost-effective solution, relying on existing data sources such as media reports and social media to gather information. It complements traditional surveillance systems by providing additional sources of information, including rumors and community reports, thereby enhancing situational awareness for health authorities.

In Nigeria, EBS is being used to monitor and respond to various health threats, including infectious diseases like Ebola and Lassa fever. By leveraging the benefits of EBS, Nigeria is strengthening its public health surveillance system and better protecting the health of its population.