The Lagos State branch of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has called on private hospitals and healthcare facilities to strengthen their preparedness and response systems for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The guild said the growing threat of infectious diseases, combined with the vulnerability of densely populated urban centres such as Lagos to rapid transmission, makes it necessary for healthcare providers to review their emergency plans and strengthen their capacity to respond.
The chairman of the Lagos branch, Dr Omoniyi Fagbemi, made the call at the guild’s 2026 Scientific Conference, Annual General Meeting and Founder’s Dinner and Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Conference focuses on emergency preparedness
The conference centred on emergency preparedness for emerging and re-emerging diseases, a subject Fagbemi described as particularly relevant to Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The focus reflects the need for healthcare facilities to anticipate outbreaks, identify suspected infections promptly and coordinate their responses with public health authorities.
Private hospitals are an important component of Nigeria’s healthcare system, providing services to patients across a wide range of communities. Their preparedness can affect how quickly suspected outbreaks are identified and whether patients receive appropriate care while the risk of transmission is managed.
Strengthening readiness at facility level
Effective preparedness generally involves clear infection-prevention procedures, adequate protective equipment, trained personnel, appropriate isolation arrangements where necessary, reliable reporting channels and established referral pathways.
Hospitals also need procedures for recognising unusual clusters of symptoms and communicating relevant information to public health authorities.
These measures are particularly important in crowded urban environments, where frequent movement between communities and healthcare facilities can complicate efforts to contain infectious diseases.
The guild’s appeal places responsibility on private healthcare providers to maintain systems that can respond to emergencies rather than relying solely on measures introduced after an outbreak has begun.
Coordination remains essential
Hospital-level preparedness is only one component of a wider public health response. Effective disease control also depends on surveillance, laboratory capacity, access to reliable information, coordination between public and private facilities, and timely action by relevant authorities.
The conference provides a platform for medical directors to discuss professional practice and challenges affecting healthcare delivery.
While the call highlights the importance of readiness, the practical impact will depend on how facilities translate preparedness plans into staff training, available resources and routine operating procedures.
The emphasis on emerging and re-emerging diseases also underlines the importance of maintaining healthcare capacity between outbreaks, rather than treating preparedness as an occasional exercise.