Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the former director general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has received praise from the World Health Organization (WHO), the federal government, and various other health sector stakeholders for his effective handling of the COVID-19 response in Nigeria. In Abuja, the commendation was given during a book launch event titled ‘An Imperfect Storm: A Pandemic and the Coming of Age of a Nigerian Institution’, written by Ihekweazu and his wife Vivianne.
In his address, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the WHO, praised Ihekweazu in the book for his exceptional efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasised the importance of family support. He highlighted their contribution to creating a more secure Nigeria and a safer global community. Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, a former State Minister of Health, viewed the COVID-19 pandemic as a hidden blessing for the nation, as it prompted the enhancement of molecular labs, ventilators, intensive care units, and various medical tools.
Pandemics bring about significant changes in the nation.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, also praised the former NCDC boss for his exemplary leadership in managing a Public Health institution amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasised that pandemics bring about significant changes and commended the efforts of Ihekweazu in building the NCDC as a crucial response mechanism for future crises. He emphasised the importance of Ihekweazu recording the knowledge gained from the COVID-19 crisis.
He emphasised that Dr. Jide Idris, the newly appointed Director-General of the NCDC, is expected to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor. With the collaborative efforts of the dedicated NCDC team, development partners, and the broader healthcare community in Nigeria, Dr. Idris is poised to further fortify the institution. The focus will be on enhancing their preparedness to respond swiftly and effectively to health threats, ensuring that potential outbreaks are contained before they escalate into widespread epidemics or global pandemics.
Critical lessons learned from past mistakes can be found in the book.
Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences at University College London, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, passionately introduced the book while stating that it is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the study of pandemics as well as the critical lessons learned from past mistakes. He further emphasised that those seeking to master the art of effective communication with diverse national audiences would greatly benefit from this insightful and thought-provoking work, urging them to explore its valuable content.
During the book launch, Boss Mustapha, who is the ex-secretary to the government of the federation, emphasised the significance of teamwork as one of the key takeaways. He stressed that the diverse strategies and cooperation between public and private sectors played a crucial role in the pandemic response, ultimately leading to great success. He praised Vivianne Ihekweazu for her support and contribution in helping her husband successfully fulfil his roles as a member of the COVID-19 task force and director general of the NCDC.
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Moreover, the book is a valuable resource for those who want to explore the strategies of collaboration between various government agencies and multilateral organisations. It also offers insights into effectively involving the Private Sector in the advancement of public health. He highly recommends the book to anyone interested in these topics, especially Nigerians. The book authors discussed how they worked to foster collaboration between government agencies, private sectors, and global partners while overcoming obstacles to create a strong and proactive response to the COVID-19 crisis.