STRENGTHENING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE SYSTEMS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA - LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

This systematic review focuses on the disease surveillance and response systems of Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategies adopted, challenges, and achievements, as well as lessons to be learned to enhance epidemic preparedness in the future. The research article was guided by the PRISMA principle, as it involved search of five databases. Eighteen articles were included in the study, including seventeen qualitative and one mixed-method design. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI, 2020) checklists were used to critically appraise the papers. Findings were thematically analyzed using the MAXQDA software. The results showed three overarching themes (1) adopted strategies on managing COVID-19, (2) lessons learned regarding future preparedness in case of a pandemic, and (3) the success of strategies implemented. The containment strategies that were adopted by Nigeria comprised lockdown, travel bans, wearing of masks, and health education of the population. These were accompanied with digital innovations, community engagements, and presidential task force support. Nonetheless, poor infrastructure, poor coordination low testing capacity, and socioeconomic differences affected the efficacy of interventions. There is need of the multi-sectoral coordination, technology integration, and socioeconomic resilience in future preparedness actions. The study also highlighted the importance of institutional co-existence, the constant training of health workers and investment in health infrastructure to make sure future outbreaks are detected and mitigated on time. However, continued difficulties, such as misinformation, failure to enforce, and premature relaxation of lockdowns, restricted total effect. The review recognizessome vital lessons to the response to COVID-19 in Nigeria that can be used to improve the empowerment of disease surveillance and response systems. The priorities are to enhance data systems, community trust, emergency preparedness and interagency coordination to increase resilience to future outbreaks of public health