The Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in launching the state’s Environmental Surveillance Programme (ESPN).
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this commitment during a courtesy visit by an NCDC delegation, led by Consultant on Needs Assessment, Prof. Olatunji Kolawole, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja. Prof. Kolawole informed the Lagos State Government that the state had been selected as a pilot site for the phase two surveillance initiative.
Noting the interdependence of health and environment, Wahab emphasized the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in tackling public health challenges. “Interestingly, the second leg of the THEME+ agenda of this administration is Health and Environment. You cannot separate the effects of the environment on the health sector,” Wahab said.
The Commissioner noted that improving environmental systems directly reduces health challenges and related costs. “If we fix the basics in the environment ecosystem, we can significantly lower the cost of health challenges,” he added.
The Environmental Surveillance Programme aims to establish a robust system capable of detecting outbreak-prone pathogens, monitoring endemic diseases, supporting clinical surveillance, informing vaccination strategies, and serving as an early warning system for future outbreaks.
Wahab recalled the Ministry’s collaboration with the Ministry of Health during the cholera outbreak, stressing that environmental solutions are critical in preventing health sector challenges. He also reaffirmed Lagos State’s readiness to collaborate with NCDC through its agencies, including the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos Waste Water Management Office (LASWMO), and Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Prof. Kolawole commended Lagos State for its cooperation, which he said would enhance the smooth implementation of the ESPN project. He added that the assessment team would work closely with state officials to evaluate site requirements and establish effective surveillance operations.
Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; General Manager of LASWMO, Engr. Femi Afolabi; and other directors in the Ministry.