NEMA mobilises against Avian infuenza

Against the backdrop of the threatened global resurgence of Avian Influenza, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is to convene a meeting of stakeholders to strategise towards the prevention and minimal human transmission of the infectious virus in the country.Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sidi, said the agency was concerned about the threats of the virus and, therefore, would mobilise the stakeholders to strengthen capacities for the pandemic prediction and response.He said the bitter losses recorded from the recent spread of poultry infections by the virus had necessitated early preparations for effective management in the prevention of the human infections which had begun to manifest in some parts of the world.Alhaji Sidi told a delegation of the newly established Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) who were on a visit to his office that the agency had embarked on series of activities to strengthen synergy among the stakeholders to adopt measures for efficient responses to disaster situations in the country.While urging the centre to take leading role in undertaking investigations of any disease outbreak by employing relevant diagnostic tools, he charged the staff to recommend control measures against various communicable diseases in the country for timely response and remedies.He said: 'We must save lives, protect people and prevent disaster occurrence through a collaborative efforts of stakeholders.'Earlier, Director of the Disease Control Centre, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, requested the partnership of NEMA towards its mandates to harmonise responses to health related emergencies in the country.He said Nigeria could benefit more through the partnership of the two agencies in addressing the increasing global challenges of natural and man-made disasters.
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