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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

Nigeria's proposed infectious diseases institute faces opposition over role duplication fears

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A proposed National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases in Nigeria faces opposition from existing health bodies over concerns of duplicating roles.
  • The institute's acting CEO argues these criticisms stem from a misunderstanding of the bill, stating the institute will complement, not duplicate, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's functions.
  • Supporters believe the institute will fill gaps in specialist infectious disease treatment, training, and research, while opponents fear overlapping responsibilities.

The push to establish a National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases in Nigeria has ignited a debate within the country's health sector. Critics, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society, and the Health Sector Reform Coalition, argue that the proposed institute would create redundant functions with existing bodies.

However, Dr. Dalhatu Aminu, the acting CEO of the proposed institute, has refuted these claims. He asserts that the opposition is based on a "fundamental misreading" of the bill, suggesting that critics may be analyzing an outdated or incorrect version. Aminu emphasized that the institute is designed to be a specialist tertiary institution focused on clinical care, postgraduate training, and advanced research in infectious diseases.

The opposition is based on a fundamental misreading of the bill. The organisations appear to have analysed an earlier, superseded draft or an entirely different document.

— Dr Dalhatu AminuAddressing a press conference in Zaria, the acting CEO of the proposed National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases refuted criticisms of the bill.

Aminu clarified that the bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, does not aim to create a parallel agency or usurp the NCDC's powers. Instead, he stated, the institute is intended to support the NCDC in areas like disease surveillance, outbreak response, and national public health preparedness. He pointed to Section 21 of the bill, which he said explicitly states the institute "shall not duplicate the statutory public health surveillance, outbreak response, or national coordination functions of the NCDC" and requires collaboration with the agency.

Further addressing concerns, Aminu dismissed allegations that the bill seeks to designate the institute as Nigeria's International Health Regulations National Focal Point, stating no such provision exists in the legislation. Supporters maintain that the institute will fill critical gaps in specialist infectious disease treatment and research without encroaching on the NCDC's mandate.

shall not duplicate the statutory public health surveillance, outbreak response, or national coordination functions of the NCDC.

— Dr Dalhatu AminuQuoting Section 21 of the proposed legislation to emphasize the institute's complementary role.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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