As part of efforts to provide accessible information to Nigerians and the media community, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has launched its website in Abuja.
The website, www.ncdc.gov.ng, which will be at the centre of the digital channels to be deployed by the NCDC for its communications functions, will serve as the primary source of health information to Nigerian citizens, journalists and health workers.
Speaking at the launch, the CEO of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said, “we are not deploying a back office for communications at the NCDC, we are picking the best hands possible and we are placing the functions at the level it deserves to be. The website will be core to all our activities and we hope it goes ahead to fulfill our intentions in the Nigerian health space.”
Ihekweazu, who appreciated the Centre’s partner, the University of Maryland, MGIC-Nigeria project played in the implementation of this project, called on Nigerians to take advantage of the website for updates on prevention, treatment, as well as outbreak information of various diseases.
The Country Representative, MGIC-Nigeria, Mrs. Mercy Nyiang, said her institution was committed to working with the NCDC in implementing activities towards strengthening surveillance in Nigeria.
On his part, the Technical Assistant to the CEO on Communications, Dr. Lawal Bakare, highlighted that an integrated system which allows the NCDC to focus on two communications functions is being pursued.
Bakare said, “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.
“The centre’s social channels on Twitter (@NCDCgov) and Facebook.com/NCDCgov are active and are always open for engagement. The centre’s messenger account, m.me/ncdcgov, is also open for especially journalists engagement.”
