Ekiti Strengthens Public Health Emergency Response with New Training Initiative

The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its public health emergency response system through sustained investment in emergency preparedness, workforce development and institutional reforms aimed at improving the state’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said equipping frontline health workers with the right skills remains essential to safeguarding public health and ensuring coordinated responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Filani, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, made the remarks during the opening of a three-day Basic Level Public Health Emergency Management training programme for health professionals in Ado-Ekiti.

The training, organised by the Ministry of Health, is designed to strengthen the state’s preparedness and response capacity for disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

“The state government remains committed to strengthening Ekiti’s public health security architecture through continuous capacity development, strategic partnerships and institutional reforms,” Filani said.

He noted that the programme aligns with national and international best practices in public health emergency management while promoting stronger collaboration among state and local government health stakeholders.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Olasunkanmi Alabi, said the training would further improve the capacity of health personnel and enhance the state’s readiness to manage future public health emergencies.

The Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Akintunde Ogunsakin, encouraged participants to fully utilise the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the programme in their respective duties.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Bosede Alowooye, explained that the training forms part of the government’s long-term strategy to build a resilient and responsive public health emergency management system.

According to her, participants are receiving training in key areas including emergency coordination, incident management systems, preparedness planning, disease surveillance, logistics, information management, risk communication and emergency response coordination.

She added that the programme follows earlier preparedness initiatives undertaken by the ministry in 2026, including a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre simulation exercise that assessed the state’s response to viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

The ministry also reviewed the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Handbook under the Sector-Wide Approach Disbursement Linked Indicator 9 to strengthen operational readiness.

Participants at the training include Public Health Emergency Operations Centre pillar leads, watch officers, members of the State Rapid Response Team and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers from all local government areas.

The Ekiti State Government says the initiative is part of its broader efforts to build a more resilient healthcare system capable of responding swiftly and effectively to future public health threats.