Lagos moves to stop deadly outbreaks with aggressive surveillance overhaul

Lagos State has ramped up its public health defence, deploying a hands-on training programme to sharpen the capacity of frontline disease surveillance officers and accelerate response to potential outbreaks.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health said the four-day Quarterly Surveillance Evaluation and Capacity Building programme for Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) is aimed at turning data into swift, life-saving action across the state.

Held at Orchid Hotel, Lekki, the training brings together surveillance officers, laboratory experts and public health stakeholders under the theme, “From Data to Action: Hands-on Surveillance Evaluation Using Case-Based Approaches.”

Speaking during a visit, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Dayo Lajide, said the initiative is critical to strengthening early warning systems and ensuring rapid intervention during health emergencies.

“You are truly the first point of alert in our system,” she told participants, stressing that accurate reporting and timely communication remain essential to preventing escalation of disease outbreaks.

She also warned that poor information management could trigger public panic, particularly during infectious disease incidents, underscoring the role of trained communication channels in managing risk.

Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, described the programme as a flagship initiative positioning Lagos ahead of other states in surveillance innovation.

“The essence of this programme is capacity building and ensuring that we translate data into action,” he said, noting improvements such as the shift to electronic reporting systems and enhanced data flow to policymakers.

State Disease Surveillance Officer, Mr. Lakunle Openiyi, added that the training is built around real-life case scenarios to strengthen decision-making at both community and state levels.

Participants welcomed the practical approach, saying it has improved their ability to detect outbreaks early and respond effectively.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Modinat Akiolu described surveillance as the “eyes and hands of the health system,” warning that missed detection could have devastating consequences.

The programme, running from April 22 to 25, is expected to strengthen Lagos’ outbreak preparedness and reinforce its leadership in disease surveillance nationwide.