In Nigeria, diseases that are considered to be “notifiable” are diseases that are legally obliged to be reported to the country’s public health authorities. These illnesses are regarded as being of great concern to the general public’s health and have the capability of swiftly spreading throughout a community. Infectious diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and HIV are examples of notifiable diseases. Specific non-infectious ailments, such as cancer and foodborne illnesses, are also examples of certain conditions that must be reported.
Notifying public health authorities about diseases that need notification allows early detection and prompt response to outbreaks, which is the primary goal of this practice. This may involve putting into effect preventative steps including quarantining certain areas, administering vaccinations, and educating the public about the disease.
Healthcare providers, laboratories, and other institutions that are required to report these ailments to public health authorities are often the ones to identify and report notifiable diseases. Public health professionals then use this information to track the incidence and distribution of notifiable diseases and to establish policies for prevention and control of these diseases.
It is necessary that individuals, in addition to informing officials in charge of public health of diseases that need to be reported, take precautions to protect themselves and others from the diseases in question. This may involve taking preventative steps such as getting vaccinated, maintaining proper hygiene, and adhering to other measures that have been recommended.
By cooperating with one another, we will be able to contribute to the reduction of the spread of diseases that require reporting in Nigeria and to the promotion of the health and well-being of our communities.
The list of diseases that need to be reported is given below.
Complete List of Notifiable Diseases in Nigeria
The list of notifiable diseases in Nigeria may vary depending on the specific guidelines and regulations in place. In general, examples of notifiable diseases in Nigeria may include:
- Tuberculosis
- Typhoid fever
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Smallpox
- Dengue fever
- Chickenpox
- Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Cholera
- Diphtheria
- Leprosy
- Meningococcal Meningitis
- Pertussis (Whooping cough)
- Tetanus
- Lassa fever
- Zika virus
- Foodborne diseases outbreak
- Rubella
- Poliomyelitis
- Waterborne diseases outbreak
- Ebola
- Lymphatic Filariasis
- Measles
- Dracunculiasis
- Anthrax (human)
- Adverse Effects Following Immunization
- Diarrhea with blood (Shigella)
- Rabies (human)
- West Nile Fever
- Onchocerciasis
- Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans disease)
- Avian influenza or Bird flu (human).
How to Report a Diseases in Nigeria
To report a notifiable disease in Nigeria, you may need to contact your local or state public health department. You can typically find contact information for your local public health department on your state or local government’s website. Alternatively, you can contact the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria for information on how to report a notifiable disease.
In some cases, you may also need to report a notifiable disease to your healthcare provider, such as a doctor or nurse. They will be able to provide you with more information on how to report the disease and can help you access the necessary medical care and treatment.
It is important to follow the guidelines for reporting notifiable diseases in Nigeria in order to help prevent the spread of these diseases and protect the health of your community.
