RTI celebrates Nigeria as it records improvement in health security

The country scored a total of 54 % in its capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - RTI International, a nonprofit research institute and leading international development organization, is pleased to join the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in celebrating progress of Nigeria’s health security.

Health security is the ability to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health threats that could endanger people’s health across geographical regions and international boundaries.

Nigeria recorded an increase in the assessment of the country’s health security from 39% in 2017 to 54% in 2023 following the conclusion of the second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for International Health Regulations (IHR) Core Capacities conducted in September 2023.

“Nigeria is making great strides in health security”, said Dr. Emmanuel Oga, Principal Investigator of the RTI project. “We congratulate The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa on this achievement and amplify the need to focus on the identified gaps for even greater improvement. The commendable progress Nigeria has made in a short span showcases the power of cross-sectoral collaboration and dedication. We’re proud to be a part of this journey and will remain steadfast in our support to NCDC to fill any gaps.”

The JEE is a voluntary country-led multi-sectoral process and one of the four components of the IHR monitoring and evaluation framework. This process involves a diverse team of experts, collectively evaluating a nation’s preparedness and response capacities across 19 technical areas, under the guidance of relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

As a leader in health systems strengthening and the prevention and control of infectious diseases, RTI brings extensive expertise in preventing, detecting and responding to disease outbreaks and emerging pandemic threats. For more than two decades, we have helped domestic and international clients reinforce global health security through our multidisciplinary expertise in disease surveillance, public health workforce development, governance, health information systems and integration, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, economic impact analysis and data management and analysis.

Learn more about RTI’s work advancing global health security