Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC202543 (Oral 072) | Published: 18 Aug 2025
Reuben Agbons Eifediyi1, Joseph Okoeguale1, Ola Chikerendu Egbuta1,&, Yemihan Ogbetere1, Peter Okokhere1, Sylvanus Akhalufo Okogbenin1, Danny Akhere Asogun1, Yusuf Jibrin2, Robinson Onoh3, Christian Ehigbor Erohubie1, Mojeed Olaitan Rafiu1, Ekaete Alice Tobin1, Yemisi Ighodalo1, Efe Petra Edeawe1, Osahon Otaigbe1, Ehizojie Emua1
1Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria, 2Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State, Nigeria, 3Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Ola Chikerendu Egbuta, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria; Email: olaegbutac@gmail.com
Received: 31 May 2025, Accepted: 07 Jul 2025, Published: 18 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Simulation, Epidemic preparedness, Infectious disease outbreak, Emerging infectious disease
©Reuben Agbons Eifediyi et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Reuben Agbons Eifediyiu et al., Strengthening outbreak response in West Africa: Insights from a Nigerian simulation exercise. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00072. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00072
Recurrent outbreaks of emerging diseases highlight the need for efficient epidemic preparedness and response mechanisms in Nigeria. Simulation exercises are essential for evaluating response capabilities and strengthening public health emergency preparedness. In February 2025, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Nigeria, conducted a field simulation exercise on the Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) outbreak in a rural community. The objectives were to assess the reproducibility of the World Health Organization (WHO) simulation exercise cycle in rural settings, evaluate existing response procedures, test coordination during emergencies, and identify areas for improvement.
The simulation adhered to the WHO simulation exercise cycle, comprising pre-exercise, exercise conduct, and post-exercise phases. Pre-exercise activities included establishing an exercise management team, developing an action plan, engaging stakeholders, conducting participant briefings, and developing the master scenario and evaluation tools. The two-day exercise simulated multiple SVD cases, prompting activation of emergency response structures. Participants, organized under emergency response pillars, undertook tasks such as community engagement and risk communication, case management, mobile laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, safe burial practices, and coordination of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Performance was evaluated by independent observers using a standardised checklist, immediate debriefs and a formal post-exercise review.
The exercise confirmed that all WHO simulation phases are reproducible in the Nigerian rural setting. Effective pre-exercise planning and stakeholder engagement, particularly through the Community Advisory Board, addressed community resistance. ISTH demonstrated a high level of preparedness, with average performance scores of 80% across all tasks. Identified gaps included poor communication and instruction dissemination, inadequate access control at the isolation area, a lack of centralised waste management system, and vehicular breakdown.
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