– Nigeria has been grappling with the outbreaks of diseases like cholera, polio, and lassa fever recently – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has taken a giant step towards addressing the challenges – NCDC launched its website yesterday, October 26, in Abuja as part of its plans to stem the outbreak of diseases Efforts at ensuring that Nigeria effectively control and monitor diseases received a major boost as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) launched its website yesterday, October 26, in Abuja. Recently, Nigerian has been grappling with the outbreaks of diseases like cholera, polio, and lassa fever. Some experts had inferred that the lack of robust disease surveillance and control to cover the North east was a major reason for the re-emergence of polio. This among other things is what the website seeks to correct, says Dr Lawal Bakare, NCDC’s technical assistant on communications. According to Dr Bakare, the website which is built and fashioned to operate like that of the United States’ Centre for Disease and Control will serve as the primary source of health information to Nigerian citizens, journalists and health workers for first hand information on how to prevent and protect against health hazards or threats. Appreciating the role that the University of Maryland, MGIC-Nigeria project played in the implementation of the project at the launch, the chief executive officer of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu affirmed the role of technology and communications in fulfilling its mandate in the Nigerian health space. “We are not deploying a back office for communications at the NCDC, we are picking the best hands possible and we are placing the function at the level it deserves to be. The website we are launching today is core to all our activities and we hope it goes ahead to fulfil our intentions in the Nigerian health space,” he said. The country representative of MGIC-Nigeria, Mrs Mercy Nyiang restated the commitment of the institution in ensuring that the NCDC successfully implement its activities towards surveillance in Nigeria. The website which was launched at about 1.30pm on Wednesday is expected to be an integrated system which permits the NCDC to focus on two communications functions. “The NCDC hopes to showcase a strong corporate brand and fulfill NCDC’s responsibility in risk communication. “These dual communication goals require that we focus on the minutiae elements of brand building and communication for mitigating and responding to disease threats. This website allows us to deploy web technology for both functions at once,” Dr Bakare added. Nigerians can now visit www.ncdc.gov.ng , navigate to know more about the NCDC and learn how to protect themselves now and in the future. Meanwhile, the Lagos state government recently recorded 6 deaths from a cholera outbreak out of 45 cases in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state. The state commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris said the main source of the outbreak has been traced to local consumption of Salad called Abacha .

What is the Use of the Website that is not in function till date. My concern about the interview conducted by NCDC since may, 2015 and there was noting to write home about. Nigerian government humiliate there applicants for what so ever, many applicants, for what so ever reasons, be-young explanation by making them embark and traveling to unnecessary interviews that they will end up not geting the job but rather the will be given to their friends and relatives that held high position in government. I am sure by now those interviews conduct accros the state has already been replace with people with connection/godfathers. Because i personally know some individuals who applied online and were called to this interview with out any influence of godfather-ism. But to one reason or the other, i am very sure those qualified candidates/applicants have been virtually replaced. May God Save us in a country like Nigeria.