Experts task FG on release of Infection, Prevention and Control budget
Experts have called on the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure early release of the N740 million allocated to the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for Infection, Prevention and Control ( IPC) activities in the 2025 budget. They made the call Thursday […]
Experts have called on the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure early release of the N740 million allocated to the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for Infection, Prevention and Control ( IPC) activities in the 2025 budget.
They made the call Thursday during an interview with Daily Trust in Abuja in commemoration of this year’s World Hand Hygiene Day.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene.’
The experts said doing so is critical to ensuring effective implementation of IPC activities including hand hygiene across health facilities in the country.
Data from the 2025 budget showed that a total of N200 million was allocated to NCDC for IPC while N540 million was allocated to the NPHCDA, for health promotion and laboratory activities including IPC.
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO), implementing effective IPC strategies, including hand hygiene, can lead to significant economic savings by reducing the need for extended hospital stays, treatment of infections, and reduced healthcare resources.
Experts said hand washing is one of the most important procedures to prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections.
The National Coordinator of the Epidemic Ready Primary Health Care (ERPHC) Project , Dr Moreen Kamateeka, said the NCDC and NPHCDA are the two agencies coordinating national IPC activities, adding that timely release of the funds would help close the current gaps in IPC in the country.
Represented by Dr Aisha Faruk, an epidemiologist and IPC expert with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), she explained that budgetary allocation for IPC has been grossly inadequate over the years with a paltry N50 million allocated to NCDC , and nothing to NPHCDA in the 2023 budget. There was also no budgetary allocation for IPC in the 2024 budget.
She said, “Even the 50 million that was allocated to NCDC in 2023, not up to 40% of it was utilized. Which was why it was removed completely the next year.”
Kamateeka said this further caused a dearth of resources for IPC activities in the country.
“One major gap we identified is inadequate supply of IPC materials, from Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to hand sanitizers to even the hand washing stations where health care workers wash their hands. All those basic IPC supplies were not there because they don’t have their own domestic funds. So those gaps persisted,” she stated.
While commending the federal government for the budgetary allocations for IPC in the 2025 budget, she added that timely release as well as effective utilisation was crucial.
She advised Nigerians to wash their hands regularly and properly , adding that it helps in protecting them against diseases.
She said, ” Wash your hands before eating,and wash your hands after using the toilet.”
She added that the gaps in IPC inspired the establishment of the ERPHC Project.
She said, “We realized that IPC, was sub- optimal across all levels of care. From the national level down to the facilities.So we came up with a proposal on how to strengthen IPC, because everything we do in healthcare institutions without IPC puts everyone at risk. IPC is the cornerstone for health security. The ERPHC project started in 2020 during COVID-19 and has evolved from building the capacity of healthcare workers, to supporting to build the national IPC program. “The primary healthcare level is the entry point for the healthcare system, but IPC implementation was almost non existent there. So the concept of ERPHC evolved on how to strengthen IPC.”
She added that the project was currently being piloted in, Kano and Ogun states , and involves mentors going through selected facilities to build the capacity of healthcare workers on IPC practices.
Also, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris said compelling evidence shows that up to 70% of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented by implementing effective IPC interventions.
He said Infection prevention and control, or IPC, is not merely a set of protocols but is the cornerstone of public health and the bedrock upon which a resilient health system is built.
He said over the last decade, major outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, diphtheria, cholera, and the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated how rapidly infections can spread through communities and be amplified in healthcare settings.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate said a recent study revealed that approximately 44% of patients admitted to the country’s hospitals acquire at least one healthcare associated infection during their stay.
Speaking during the inauguration of a national infection prevention and control (IPC) technical working group, he said these infections, caused by various pathogens, can lead to severe complications, extended hospital stays, and could tragically end in death.
He said, “The human and economic costs are substantial and have been calculated to cost USD 715 per episode, draining vital resources and funds that could be channeled towards other critical aspects of our health system. The burden of healthcare associated infections extends beyond financial implications, as it represents a threat to the health and productive years for our citizens, affecting the quality of life for countless families and healthcare workers.”
The minister said the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) conducted in Nigeria indicated that while Nigeria has made significant progress in infection prevention and control, there are still strategic areas that the country needs to strengthen.