April 30, 2018

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated 22 motorcycles to the Plateau Ministry of Health  to help improve  health surveillance.

Mr Williams Bassey, the Plateau State Coordinator of WHO, presented the motorcycles  to Dr Kuden Deyin, the State Commissioner for Health,   on Monday in Jos.

Bassey said that the donation was informed  by the observation of  inadequate means of transportation  in reviews and monthly meetings with Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs).

He said health surveillance systems generate data that help public health officials understand existing and emerging infectious and non-infectious diseases.

“Without a proper understanding of the health problem,  it will be difficult to ameliorate the health issues and without surveillance, public health officials and the government would be stabbing blindly at health problems.

“So continuous data collection is needed to monitor new diseases that threaten global health security,” he said.

He further said that some  of the major activities of surveillance is active case search, line listing and case monitoring with the sole aim of early diagnosis and treatment.

According to him, strong public health surveillance systems help health officials  to accurately describe and assess the state of health problems  as reliable data can improve health promotion programmes while  helping  policy makers and investors to allocate resources effectively.

Deyin, who received the motorcycles with  reflective jackets and helmets, thanked  WHO for the donation and expressed optimism that   the state’s surveillance system would be greatly improved.

The commissioner said that the ministry was expecting quality data through  functional surveillance to help take an informed decision that would make a positive impact on the health of the public.

Deyin cautioned the DSNOs to ensure that they use the motorcycles for health surveillance and not  `personal surveillance,”   adding that they must remain committed to their duties.