The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a multi-sectoral Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) team to bolster the response to public health emergencies.
The team was inaugurated in Abuja on Friday at the conclusion of a two-day workshop organized for its members. Participants were drawn from various secretariats, departments, and agencies, as well as from media, religious organizations, civil society groups, and non-governmental organizations.
The RCCE team is tasked with responding to public health emergencies and engaging with communities across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, the team will work to bridge gaps in communication and community engagement, conduct research, and establish a framework for sharing and documenting best practices in managing public health emergencies.
During the inauguration, Dr. Babagana Adam, the Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, FCTA, highlighted that the initiative aims to empower communities with crucial public health information. Dr. Adam, represented by Dr. Obanewa Olayinka, the Director of Special Duties, emphasized that this strategy would address gaps in the implementation of the One Health Concept in the territory.
The One Health Concept is an integrated approach designed to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. According to Dr. Adam, Risk Communication and Community Engagement involves two-way communication, rumor control, and participatory engagement, all aimed at helping communities mitigate disease outbreaks and reduce their impact.
“There is, therefore, a need to empower communities across the FCT through comprehensive community engagements with adequate feedback mechanisms, using a bottom-up approach,” Dr. Adam added.
Dr. Doris John, the Director of the Public Health Department, noted that the FCT is the first among Nigeria’s 36 states to establish such a team. Represented by FCT Epidemiologist Dr. Theresa Nwachukwu, Dr. John explained that the team was formed following a Joint External Evaluation that rated the FCT’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies below 50 percent. The multi-sectoral team is expected to be equipped to handle any kind of public health emergency in the FCT.
Dr. John assured the team members of the Public Health Department’s support to ensure their success in their tasks.
Michael Okali, Senior Health Education Officer at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, stated that with the RCCE team in place, emergency responses and community engagement approaches would be unified and more effective.
