DRASA ADMIN

DRASA ADMIN

  • Joined: October 16, 2025
  • Articles: 210

Our DRASA Ambassadors Share Lessons Learned About Antimicrobial Resistance

“Antimicrobial Resistance is a silent pandemic that is spreading faster than we anticipated but education is key to ensuring that everyone understands the risk, and takes steps to protect themselves and others” – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization According to the United Nations Environment Programme, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a top global health threat, with a death toll that could catch up to death rates from cancer (10 million deaths yearly) by 2050, if unchecked. It is closely linked to poverty, lack of sanitation, poor hygiene and pollution and could push 24 million more people into extreme poverty in the next decade. The quote above by the DG of WHO shows that though AMR is spreading faster than we expected, it can be counter-attacked by educating people. In line with the WHO’s charge to all countries of the world to develop and implement national action plans for curbing AMR, we are supporting Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance through our AMR School Program where we train and develop school students from low-resource settings to learn more about AMR and how to prevent it. Recently, we scaled this work to reach students in 30 schools in two states in Nigeria – Lagos and Osun – by establishing Health and Hygiene Clubs in their schools. Our focus is to equip them to drive the adoption of healthy and hygienic practices in their homes and communities. These students shared with us what they learned about AMR through our Clubs and how they are putting lessons learned to use in their communities. Here is what they have to say about what antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is: Here’s what they have to say about how to stop AMR: And here’s how they are spreading the good news and educating others on how to stay […]

Contagious Conversations on Preventing Infectious Diseases: Insights from the DRASA Radio Half-Hour

As part of our efforts to promote public health and prevent infectious diseases, we took our awareness campaign to the airwaves.  Our DRASA Radio Half Hour is a 30-minute radio show that aired live on Inspiration 92.3 FM Lagos from February to March. During the show, we discussed and engaged with listeners on critical topics focused on how they can identify and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in their homes, schools, workplaces, religious centers, and communities. Over the course of five weeks, we reached over 77,000 listeners. In our first three episodes, we focused on understanding infectious diseases, how they spread, and what to do when we fall sick. Other topics covered in the last two episodes included how to prevent the spread of germs in homes and communities, as well as the role of vaccines in saving us from preventable illnesses. Our radio show was no ordinary broadcast. During the course of each episode, we had active listeners and participants, eagerly dialing in to ask questions and share their experiences. But the excitement didn’t stop there– at the end of each show, we tested their knowledge on the topics discussed with quizzes, rewarding the sharpest minds with prizes. If you missed any of our first five episodes, you can access detailed content and insights by visiting the playlist on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/DRHH We hope the information and perspectives shared in these episodes will inspire and empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect their health.

Investing in Health Workers is Crucial for Global Health: Here’s Why

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical role played by health workers in combating infectious diseases. It is a testament to the sacrifices made by the millions of health workers worldwide who put their lives at risk to contain the spread of the virus. However, despite their crucial contribution, health workers, especially those who work in resource-poor settings in Nigeria are often undervalued, underpaid, and overstretched. This year’s World Health Worker Week focused on investing in health workers as an essential step toward achieving global health goals. It was not only about increasing the number of health workers but also about improving their working conditions, expanding their skills, and recognizing their value. In this article, we delve into the reasons why investing in health workers is crucial for global health. Leads to better health outcomes Health workers are the first point of contact between the healthcare system and patients. Strengthening the capacity of health workers saves lives and promotes equitable access to healthcare services. Additionally, investing in health workers helps to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, prevents the spread of infectious diseases, and tackles non-communicable diseases. Supports broader societal impact Health workers play a significant role in supporting communities during times of crisis. They are often at the forefront of disaster response efforts, providing much-needed medical care and relief to affected populations. Investing in health workers generates a ripple effect that benefits the economy while also increasing productivity and financial gain. Creates a sustainable health systemInvesting in health workers helps to build a skilled workforce, promotes retention of health workers, and fosters innovation. Health workers need training and professional development opportunities, access to appropriate tools, and adequate compensation. These factors motivate health workers to remain in their countries and continue serving their communities, reducing brain drain and health-worker attrition. […]

Supporting an Advocacy Campaign to Prioritize Infection Prevention and Control Across Nigeria

“Nobody can afford not to have an encounter with a healthcare facility. You can put your money under a rug and never visit a bank, but at some point in life you must visit a health facility. Without a budget line for Infection Prevention and Control, we are at the mercy of whatever funds are thrown at us. If we are not in charge of our funding, we cannot be in charge of our destination.” — Dr. Tochi Okwor, Head of IPC, NCDC and Chair, Nigeria AMR Coordination Committee Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a scientific and evidence-based approach to preventing infections in health facilities and ensuring every patient is given safe, quality health care. It is everyone’s responsibility and requires not just continuous efforts and action across all levels of the health system and communities, but the will of policymakers to ensure the health and well being of all Nigerians is protected. A 2019 country-led mid-term joint external evaluation (JEE) of Nigeria’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Core Capacities highlighted IPC as a critical indicator of the country’s readiness to prevent and respond to public health emergencies. Having moved from a JEE score of 2 (reflecting limited capacity) in 2017 to to JEE score of 1 (reflecting no pertinent capacity) in 2019, there is a need to address some of the gaps in IPC practices in our health facilities and communities, through increased and sustained funding. From 20th to 22nd of March, we participated in a workshop on IPC Budget Advocacy. The 3-day event, which held in Abuja, involved 30 participants and engaged government, health sector partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and media professionals. Jointly led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), with support from African Field Epidemiology Network […]

Five Nigerian Women in Health Security: Why We Love Them

‘Response to outbreaks is weakened where female talent, expertise and diverse perspectives are excluded’ – Roopa Dhatt Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, women have been doing back-breaking work to strengthen Nigeria’s public health systems: from being homemakers to often being the first-level caregivers to making up a greater ratio of healthcare providers. Unvoiced, unheard, over-mentored and underfunded, the response efforts of women, who make up 70% of the global health workforce, are often undermined by gender inequalities. In 2014, one Nigerian heroine, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, saved our nation from a deadly disease. Understanding the importance of health security to national security, she prevented Nigeria’s first case of the Ebola outbreak from leaving her hospital after identifying the symptoms of the virus. The first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was also identified by a Nigerian female doctor, Dr. Amarachukwu Allison, proving women play a non-negotiable role in health security. However, women are often in the shadows, working effortlessly and thanklessly to minimize the dangers and impact of acute public health events that threaten people’s health across geographical locations and international boundaries. International Women’s Day is a day set aside all over the world to honor the contributions of women to society and to highlight and address challenges that limit women’s potential to do more. This year, the conversations are lined up on the need to #EmbraceEquity, and to take action on gender inequalities that hinder the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women. These demands are no different for women who do great work in global health security. To commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, we have spotlighted five amazing Nigerian women who have pushed through, broken the norm and are doing amazing work to contribute to strengthening health systems globally. They also share their thoughts to advocate for the […]

Have you Heard About the Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria?

There is a bacterial infection currently making people sick across Nigeria. It’s called diphtheria and so far 216 people have been infected and 40 have died in 4 states: Kano Yobe Osun Lagos Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by a bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae which produces toxins that make people sick. The bacteria infects the respiratory system and can cause the following: Fever or high temperature Chills Difficulty breathing Difficulty swallowing Weakness/tiredness Headache Cough Swollen glands in the neck Pain, redness, swelling and sores on the skin The bacteria that causes diphtheria can spread from one person to another – mostly through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread from touching open sores or wounds of an infected person.