The Medical Guild in Conjunction with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recently held a sensitization and awareness workshop on Covid -19 and Influenza Surveillance at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The NCDC Influenza and Surveillance representative, Mrs. Adama, in her talk, made note of the importance of regular training on protocols.
She said that being a novel virus, “we are presently observing Covid-19 response protocol based on what we have on the existing protocol on influenza; so we are leveraging on what already exists and that is why staff should be released for training, supervision and capacity building symposiums at other centers in the other six geo-political zones in Nigeria”.
The Acting Director of Clinical Services and Training, Dr. Adebowale Adekoya appreciated the effort of the NCDC and work they have been doing in times past.
He assured that the hospital is ready to take on the responsibility of being the Influenza Surveillance Centre in the South-West of Nigeria for COVID-19. He promised that “the COVID-19 pandemic has put us on our toes but we are set to provide support in terms of logistics, sample collection, testing and data collation for NCDC and WHO.”
Sight coordinator for Influenza Surveillance in LASUTH, Dr. Sodipo along-side the Site Facilitator, Mr. Albert both noted that the data collation on samples which are eventually used for development and distribution of vaccines and medication hence the need for LASUTH to be constantly in tune with world-wide practices. Dr. Sodipo appreciated the regular follow-up symposia.
LASUTH was nominated as the Influenza Surveillance Center in the South West of Nigeria in 2010 by the NCDC.
