Posted on: Mon 30-01-2023

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging diseases such as Lassa fever and cholera were indications of gaps in the preparedness of epidemic by many countries, including Nigeria, the World Health Organisation has said.

The organisation also called on the Federal Government to prioritise health funding towards preparedness and prevention in the fight against outbreak of diseases.

The specialised agency of the United Nations also said that Nigeria accounted for 50 per cent of tropical diseases in Africa and contributes 27 per cent of global cases of malaria and 24 per cent deaths.

The WHO Country Representative,  Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, represented by its Medical Officer (Emergency Programming and Response), Dr. Victor Tugumizemu, provoked the issues during the 3rd edition of Nigeria Health Watch Prevent Epidemics Journalism Awards which held in Abuja on Friday.

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