FG Unveils Guidelines for Chemical Events Surveillance in Nigeria

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

In a bid to safeguard public health and the environment, the federal government on Monday launched national guidelines for chemical events surveillance in Nigeria.

The guidelines drawn up by the Food and Drug Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through collaboration with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency and Resolved to Save Lives is aimed at promoting the protection of health and the environment.

It is meant to support real-time detection, assessment and monitoring chemicals of public health concern in the environment.

The initiative is also meant to enhance provision of surveillance data and the assessment of the risk exposure to these chemicals, with a view to improving the management of such incidents and exposures to protect public health.

Other objectives of these guidelines are to develop and describe the implementation of a chemical surveillance response mechanisms for chemical events (e.g. from air, water, food) and associated with exposure to key chemicals of public health concern.

Addressing participants and stakeholders during presentation of the document in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said the policy instrument is a bold step forward in safeguarding public health and environmental safety across our nation.

Her words: “I address you today at this important gathering, the official launch of national guidelines for chemical events surveillance in Nigeria. This pivotal moment represents not just the culmination of dedication and collaboration, but a bold step forward in safeguarding public health and environmental safety across our nation.

“Nigeria, like many countries, faces increasing risk from chemical means, whether accidental, deliberate or naturally occurring from industrial spills to exposure in communities to chemical hazards.”

Kachollom said Nigeria received a limited capacity rating under the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) with regards to chemical events.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately two million lives and 53 million disability-adjusted life-years were lost in 2019 due to exposures to selected chemicals.

In the same vein, statistics indicated that over 850,000 people in 12 Nigerian states, including Niger, Osun, and Zamfara, are at risk of mercury poisoning due to artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities.

Mercury is a toxic chemical that is commonly used in these processes, leading to widespread environmental and health impacts.

Also, many chemical incidents are visible (e.g. plume/odour/ spillage) and are quickly recognised, such as a fire at or a large leak from a chemical plant.

Speaking on the importance of the guidelines, the Permanent Secretary who represented the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said that timely identification of the cause of clusters or suspected outbreaks associated with exposure to chemicals may require a detailed investigation involving clinical, toxicological,

epidemiological, environmental and laboratory analytical approaches.

“These guidelines represent our proactive step to improving the score and strengthening national security, health, safety and environmental protection.

“It is worthy of note that this document, which we are going to launch today, is a framework built on evidence aligned with global standards and adapted for our local content.

“It empowers public health professionals, environmental agencies, first responders and communities with clear protocols for detection, reporting, response and mitigation of chemical events,” she said.

Kachollom further said that implementation of the chemical surveillance guidelines is aligned with the One Health approach and are designed to work in synergy with existing systems such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, IDSR, National Environmental Health Surveillance System, NEHSS, and the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis system solvers.

While highlighting the goal of the initiative, the Director Food and Drug Services Department, Pharm. Olubunmi Aribeana, said it will provide a structured national framework for early detection monitoring and coordinated responses to chemical events.

She described it as a strategic document that provides the first ever national framework for early detection, effective monitoring and timely response to chemical effect incidents.