The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has reassured residents that infection prevention and control measures remain active across primary healthcare centres, despite a nationwide shortage of COVID-19 vaccines.
Speaking after reports of a fresh case in Cross River State, the board’s Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Mustafa, said Lagos has not lowered its guard against infectious diseases.
“We cannot say COVID-19 has completely left us,” he said, noting that while vaccination has reduced the severity of infections, vigilance remains essential.
Mustafa explained that protocols introduced during the pandemic, such as hand hygiene, use of sanitizers, and mask-wearing for symptomatic individuals, have now become standard practice in healthcare facilities across Lagos.
He credited widespread vaccination and booster doses for strengthening immunity among residents, helping to limit severe outcomes. However, he confirmed that vaccine supplies are currently exhausted nationwide, with the Federal Government working to secure new stock.
At the national level, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has also moved to calm fears following the confirmed case in Cross River.
According to NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, the patient, a 53-year-old foreign national, has been isolated and is responding to treatment, with no signs of wider spread.
Health authorities say the continued enforcement of infection control measures is not limited to COVID-19 but extends to other communicable diseases, especially in a highly mobile population like Nigeria’s.
Officials are urging both healthcare workers and the public to maintain basic hygiene practices, warning that lapses could increase the risk of outbreaks.
For Lagos, the message is clear: even as the global emergency phase has passed, preparedness and routine precautions remain key to keeping infections in check.
