Lagos to Tackle Biological Threats in Ongoing Biosecurity Conference

To strengthen the advocacy for a safe Lagos and Nigeria, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has partnered the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium in the ongoing colloquy on One Health and Biosecurity in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi remarked that the conference is the fourth in the series of conferences organised by the State Government in partnership with GET.

He added that this, however, is the eighth held in West Africa and the African continent by the consortium to enable a biosecurity road map and increase the African continent’s strength towards building capacity to deal with pathogens of high effect.

He further highlighted that Lagos plays a prominent role in the development and economy of Nigeria. Having amassed a population of over 30 million individuals and being the centre of commerce in Nigeria, “It is expedient that this knowledge exchange and discourse be held there”.

According to the commissioner, Lagos, being a low-line coastal area, is vulnerable to biological threats making it important for the State government to improve its forte against biological threats and build appropriate infrastructure to manage and mitigate dangerous pathogens of high effect.

On his part, the Chief Operation Officer, of GET Africa, Dr Ayodotun Bobadoye

said that the concept of one health is necessary for ensuring biosecurity.

He emphasised: “The theme for this year’s conference is Strengthening Health Security and Mitigating Biological Threats in Africa.”

Bobadoye harped on the prevalence of biological threats saying, “With the intensity of biological threats in infectious diseases in recent times, there is no better time to host discourse on mitigating biological threats than now”.

He noted that over 400 participants from 30 different countries of the world are expected to participate in the conference.

“We are making a coalition of policymakers, scientists, non-governmental organizations, journalists, and security experts within and outside the country to discuss how we can effectively mitigate the impact of emerging biosecurity threats, especially in Africa,” he said.

The Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria,

Dr Walter Kazadi Molumbo conceded that the conference would aid WHO’s one-health approach in preparing and bolstering Africa’s capacity to address health security.

He noted that WHO agrees with Nigeria and the Lagos State Government to transform modes of preparedness, detection and response to outbreak exchange.

Kazadi further divulged that the DG of WHO has announced new strategies to help countries prepare and combat biological threats.