Epidemiology of influenza in Nigeria: A secondary analysis of the sentinel surveillance data in Nigeria from 2010 - 2020.

Background: Influenza is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Little is known of the true burden and epidemiology of influenza in Africa. Nigeria has a sentinel surveillance system for influenza virus (IFV).

Prospects for dog rabies elimination in Nigeria by 2030.

The attainment of the global target of zero dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 depends on functional rabies programmes. Nigeria, a rabies-endemic country, and the most populous country in Africa has a very poor rabies control strategy with a score of 1.5 out of 5 based on the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE).

HIV and AIDS-related knowledge, HIV risk perception, uptake of HIV testing and its predictors among prison inmates in Bauchi State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: globally, HIV infection among prison inmates is significantly higher than in the general population. Therefore, it is important to identify inmates-living-with-HIV, through HIV-testing, in keeping with the target of UNAIDS vision 90-90-90. We assessed HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, HIV-risk perception and predictors of HIV-testing-uptake in Bauchi Prison.

Supporting the Manufacturing of Medical Supplies in Africa: Collaboration Between Africa CDC, Partners, and Member States.

Inadequate supply of PPE, vaccines, and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa created an opportunity to promote local manufacturing. Authors describe Africa CDC's contributions and highlight strategies for strengthening the pandemic response.

Population-based cancer registries in Nigeria and the National Cancer Control Programme.

Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are important sources of data on cancer burden in a defined population. They are a cornerstone for establishing, implementing and monitoring and evaluating a rational cancer control programme. Despite the long history of PBCRs in more developed countries of the world, PBCRs in sub-Saharan Africa are still poorly developed and cancer control is poor.

Prevalence and Predictors of Tobacco Use Among Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Introduction: Most tobacco use begins in adolescence, causing dependence and prolonged use, and accounts for more than 8 million deaths worldwide annually. Monitoring adolescent tobacco use is critical to controlling it. Our study examined the prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use among adolescents in Nigeria.

Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected adults in Cross River State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly increased the survival and quality of life of HIV-infected persons. Strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial if viral suppression must remain optimal. We assessed predictors of adherence to ART among adult patients in Cross River State (CRS), Nigeria.

Cholera outbreak in some communities in North-East Nigeria, 2019: an unmatched case-control study.

Background: Cholera, a diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, transmitted through fecal contamination of water or food remains an ever-present risk in many countries, especially where water supply, sanitation, food safety, and hygiene are inadequate. A cholera outbreak was reported in Bauchi State, North-eastern Nigeria. We investigated the outbreak to determine the extent and assess risk factors associated with the outbreak.

Capacity building at points of entry during COVID-19 pandemic: harmonising training curriculum for Economic Community of West African States.

This paper describes the process for developing, validating and disseminating through a train-the-trainer (TOT) event a standardised curriculum for public health capacity building for points of entry (POE) staff across the 15-member state Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that reflects both international standards and national guidelines.A five-phase process was used in developing the curriculum: phase (1) assessment of existing materials developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Africa CDC and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, (2) design of retained and new, harmonised content, (3) validation by the national leadership to produce final content, (4) implementation of the harmonised curriculum during a regional TOT, and (5) evaluation of the curriculum.Of the nine modules assessed in English and French, the technical team agreed to retain six harmonised modules providing materials for 10 days of intensive training.

Evaluation of malaria surveillance system in Benue State, Nigeria.

Background: Malaria is a priority global health disease with high morbidity and mortality especially among children under-five and pregnant women. Malaria elimination requires an effective surveillance system. The malaria surveillance system in Benue State was evaluated to assess its attributes and performance in line with set objectives.

Revelation of an important weakness in polio elimination efforts in Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study of nomadic dynamics in Sokoto and Taraba States, May 2013.

Introduction: Operational gaps in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative implementation had been partly responsible for inadequate population immunity and the continued transmission of wild poliovirus in Nigeria before the African Region was declared polio-free in 2020. Missed opportunities to provide services in nomadic populations due to frequent mobility, lack of inclusion in microplans and the remoteness of their settlements were the major challenges. During May 2013 we conducted immunization outreach to nomadic and other underserved communities in Rabah LGA, Sokoto state, and Ardo Kola LGA, Taraba state, in Nigeria to identify and vaccinate children missed during supplemental immunization activities while identifying missed acute flaccid paralysis cases.

Physical inactivity and perceived environmental factors: a cross-sectional study among civil servants in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.

Introduction: physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality due to non-communicable diseases. Prevalence rates of 91.0% and 62.

Determinants of male involvement in family planning services in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Male involvement in family planning (FP) remains low in male-dominant communities. Family planning contributes to the regulation of fertility and population growth in Nigeria. Increasing male involvement in family planning services is crucial in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in patriarchal societies such as Nigeria.

Establishing event-based surveillance system in Nigeria: a complementary information generating platform for improved public health performance, 2016.

Introduction: event-based surveillance (EBS) is a surveillance method involving systematic and prompt data collection on incidents of public health importance, and complements the current indicator-based surveillance system and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSR). It also promotes a rapid assessment and response to public health emergencies in Nigeria, although there is a lack of information regarding the status of EBS among Public Health Stakeholders in Nigeria; hence our study aimed to assess the awareness, availability, and utility of EBS among Nigerian public health stakeholders.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the awareness, availability, functionality, and utilization of EBS in the 36 States in Nigeria, plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Risk factors for COVID-19 infection and disease severity in Nigeria: a case-control study.

Introduction: identifying risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity is critical to developing measures to protect vulnerable groups. We aimed to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease.

Methods: this was an unmatched case-control study that recruited participants in the country from April to July 2020.

Drug-susceptible tuberculosis treatment outcomes and its associated factors among inmates in prison settings in Bauchi State, Nigeria, 2014-2018.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease and its transmissibility is increased in congregate settings. TB incidence rates are five-to-fifty times higher among inmates in prison settings than the general population which has a direct impact on the outcome of TB treatment. There is paucity of information on TB treatment outcomes and its associated factors in Nigerian prison settings.

Nasal carriage of meticillin-resistant among children living with HIV attending Infectious Diseases Clinics in Kano, Nigeria.

Background: Children living with HIV (CLWH) are at risk of colonisation and infection with meticillin-resistant (MRSA). All isolates from CLWH with bloodstream infections in Kano were MRSA.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of nasal colonisation with and MRSA in CLWH in Kano State and to determine associated risk factors.

Performance of COVID-19 case-based surveillance system in FCT, Nigeria, March 2020 -January 2021.

Introduction: The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 has caused a pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) which has spread exponentially worldwide. A robust surveillance system is essential for correct estimation of the disease burden and containment of the pandemic. We evaluated the performance of COVID-19 case-based surveillance system in FCT, Nigeria and assessed its key attributes.

Essential medicines and technology for hypertension in primary healthcare facilities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) now constitute major cause of morbidity and mortality in middle and low income countries including Nigeria. One of the major efforts at controlling CVDs in Nigeria includes expanding universal access to care through the primary healthcare (PHC) system. The study was to assess essential medicines and technology for control of hypertension in PHC facilities in Ebonyi Nigeria.

Preliminary Outbreak Investigation and Spatial Epidemiology of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in Nigeria.

The outbreak of highly contagious transboundary rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in Nigeria has a severe socio-economic impact on the rabbit industry. We present the outbreak investigation and spatial epidemiology of the first confirmed RHD outbreak in Nigeria from a field survey of 28 stochastic outbreaks in Kwara State, north-central Nigeria. A total of 1,639 rabbits died from 2,053 susceptible rabbits.

Knowledge of health effects and determinants of psychoactive substance use among secondary school students in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria.

Introduction: psychoactive substance use (PSU) is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or methods which are harmful to themselves or others. Psychoactive substance use takes a considerable toll on financial status, academic achievement and health status of addicts. In Nigeria, PSU is on the increase, one of the most disturbing health-related problems and a leading cause of premature death among school aged population worldwide.

Epidemiological comparison of the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, February 2020-April 2021.

Background: With reports of surges in COVID-19 case numbers across over 50 countries, country-level epidemiological analysis is required to inform context-appropriate response strategies for containment and mitigation of the outbreak. We aimed to compare the epidemiological features of the first and second waves of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System data of the first and second epidemiological waves, which were between 27 February and 24 October 2020, and 25 October 2020 to 3 April 2021, respectively.

Stigmatization and psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare Workers in Nigeria: a qualitative study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great toll on global health. Frontline healthcare workers (FHCW) directly involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients have faced some physical and psychological challenges. This study explored the stigma and traumatic experiences of the FHCW during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

What do malaria program officers want to learn? A survey of perspectives on a proposed malaria short course in Nigeria.

Background: In disease control, the program officers are vital to the successful implementation of control strategies. However, poor knowledge of the disease and its control, staff attrition, and lack of intentional training for new staff can lead to under-performance and ineffectiveness of interventions. Thus, the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, in collaboration with National Malaria Elimination Program, planned a malaria short course (MSC) to strengthen the capacity of current program managers and incoming staff.

COVID-19 pandemic in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region: implication for capacity strengthening at Point of Entry.

Free movement between countries without a visa is allowed within the 15-country Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. However, little information is available across the region on the International Health Regulation (IHR 2005) capacities at points of entry (PoE) to detect and respond appropriately to public health emergencies such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). ECOWAS and the member states can better tailor border health measures across the region by understanding public health strengths and priorities for improvement at PoEs.