Pandemic Preparedness through Infection Prevention and Control: A Multi-State Assessment of Health Facilities in Nigeria
1
MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, Abuja, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is foundational to pandemic preparedness, yet facility-level capacity across low- and middle-income settings remains poorly characterized. This study assessed IPC status across five states in Nigeria.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional assessment was conducted across 361 health facilities of the 629 facilities supported by MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices across Adamawa, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara States using the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) IPC Scorecard. The scorecard covered domains including governance, staff education, hand hygiene, triage, personal protective equipment (PPE), sharps safety, and IPC audits. Trained IPC teams from the NCDC assessed selected facilities under the German Development Bank–funded Reproductive Health and Pandemic Resilience project. Overall, a score of 130 points was obtainable, with facilities categorized as inadequate (0–39 points), basic (40–59), intermediate (60–99), or advanced (100–130).
RESULTS:
Out of the 361 facilities, 92% were public, 71% were primary health care facilities, and 25% were secondary. Overall, 80% of facilities had a trained IPC focal person, 72% had an IPC committee, and IPC budgetary allocation was documented in 67% of facilities. Hand hygiene SOPs were found in 87% of facilities, yet functional hand hygiene stations at the recommended ratio were present in 55%. PPE availability was suboptimal: only 41% had gloves, 30% had gowns, and 45% had N95 respirators. Waste and sharps management was moderate, with 78% maintaining sharps protocols. Also, 49% of facilities conducted biannual audits. Overall, 11% of facilities had inadequate IPC, 6% had basic, 29% had intermediate, and 54% of facilities had advanced IPC.
CONCLUSIONS:
Facility-level assessments showed strengths in governance structures and environmental hygiene but critical gaps in PPE availability, hand hygiene infrastructure, and surveillance. Strengthening these domains is essential to enhance the pandemic preparedness of state health institutions. Investment in supplies and monitoring systems will improve pandemic resilience in Nigeria.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is foundational to pandemic preparedness, yet facility-level capacity across low- and middle-income settings remains poorly characterized. This study assessed IPC status across five states in Nigeria.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional assessment was conducted across 361 health facilities of the 629 facilities supported by MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices across Adamawa, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara States using the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) IPC Scorecard. The scorecard covered domains including governance, staff education, hand hygiene, triage, personal protective equipment (PPE), sharps safety, and IPC audits. Trained IPC teams from the NCDC assessed selected facilities under the German Development Bank–funded Reproductive Health and Pandemic Resilience project. Overall, a score of 130 points was obtainable, with facilities categorized as inadequate (0–39 points), basic (40–59), intermediate (60–99), or advanced (100–130).
RESULTS:
Out of the 361 facilities, 92% were public, 71% were primary health care facilities, and 25% were secondary. Overall, 80% of facilities had a trained IPC focal person, 72% had an IPC committee, and IPC budgetary allocation was documented in 67% of facilities. Hand hygiene SOPs were found in 87% of facilities, yet functional hand hygiene stations at the recommended ratio were present in 55%. PPE availability was suboptimal: only 41% had gloves, 30% had gowns, and 45% had N95 respirators. Waste and sharps management was moderate, with 78% maintaining sharps protocols. Also, 49% of facilities conducted biannual audits. Overall, 11% of facilities had inadequate IPC, 6% had basic, 29% had intermediate, and 54% of facilities had advanced IPC.
CONCLUSIONS:
Facility-level assessments showed strengths in governance structures and environmental hygiene but critical gaps in PPE availability, hand hygiene infrastructure, and surveillance. Strengthening these domains is essential to enhance the pandemic preparedness of state health institutions. Investment in supplies and monitoring systems will improve pandemic resilience in Nigeria.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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