Health Ministers from across West Africa are collaborating to enhance Lassa fever preparedness in the sub-region, emphasising the need for stronger laboratory capacity, community engagement, and cross-border information sharing.
The ministers said this on Tuesday at the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, which was convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
Freedomonline reports that the conference theme is “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases”.
The conference seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
Speaking, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said that the human, equipment, and infrastructure resources that exists must be properly harnessed.
“We need to strengthen laboratories, train personnel, and deploy experienced molecular laboratory experts across the sub-region, not just in one country,” he said.
Pate, who was represented by Prof. Yusuf Bara, Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, stressed the importance of improving clinical management for infected patients.
He also called for more engagements with communities to promote vaccine acceptance, and pooling financial resources from governments, philanthropists, and partners to fill critical gaps.
Dr Bwaka Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health for Liberia, called for enhanced cross-border surveillance and real-time data sharing.
Cooper emphasised leveraging existing regional platforms for regular coordination and technical assistance, ensuring rapid detection and response to cases, and standardising case definitions to improve regional preparedness.
Dr Charles Senessie, Deputy Health Minister, Sierra Leone, explained that effective cross-border collaboration starts with high-quality, real-time data capture within each country.
Senessie said that the key pillars include human resource management, supply chain, drugs, and diagnostics.
“Sierra Leone has implemented a digital health system powered primarily by solar energy, allowing real-time accurate data capture.
“The system tracks 350,000 to 400,000 pregnancies and monitors key indicators, including maternal mortality, which has improved significantly from almost 1,000 deaths per 100,000 in 2014–2020 to roughly 300–400 per 100,000 today,” he said.
He added that their National Public Health Agency works closely with neighbouring countries, ensuring coordinated response and data sharing.
Prof. Issiaka Sombie, Director of Public Health at the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), emphasised the importance of working collectively with partners such as Africa CDC and WHO.
“No single actor can improve surveillance alone. Our big challenge remains how to share epidemiological data instantly,” Sombie said.
While countries currently submit weekly reports on epidemic-prone diseases, he noted that delays of one to two weeks often hinder response.
“Nigeria has already begun implementing real-time data sharing in some areas, and the results are promising. If a case is detected in the north of Nigeria and shared instantly, it strengthens preparedness across the region.”
Freedomonline reports that the meeting highlighted lessons learned from COVID-19, with participants agreeing that stronger coordination, capacity building, and resource mobilisation are essential to reducing Lassa fever outbreaks and improving health security across West Africa.
