FG Launches Chemical Surveillance Guidelines To Tackle Public Health, Environmental Threats
In a bold step to safeguard Nigerians from chemical hazards, the Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Chemical Event Surveillance to boost public health and environmental safety.
The launch, which took place on Monday in Abuja, was spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and is seen as a major leap towards aligning Nigeria with global standards on chemical safety.
Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Minister, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, described the new guidelines as a vital tool in addressing growing chemical threats from industrial accidents to unregulated chemical use.
“Our rating in the 2023 Joint External Evaluation showed limited capacity in handling chemical events.
This guideline is our collective response to change that,” she said, urging stakeholders not to let the document “gather dust.”
The guidelines adopt a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health sectors, and complement existing systems such as IDSR and SORMAS.
Representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock Development echoed the urgency of improving chemical surveillance.
They cited rising cases of pollution, chemical misuse in farming, and health risks linked to exposure from cancer to developmental disorders in children.
Pharm. Olubunmi Aribeana, Director of Food and Drug Services, called the initiative “a call to action,” describing it as both timely and historic. She highlighted the need for synergy across all sectors to protect Nigerians from “silent threats.”
Developed through broad stakeholder consultation with support from partners including the UK Health Security Agency and Resolve to Save Lives, the document is expected to guide detection, reporting, and mitigation of chemical events nationwide.
Stakeholders have called for its full implementation, stressing that chemical safety is not just a government task, but a shared national duty.
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