Experts have said the lack of a permanent scientific advisor system has led to hesitation in the actions of decision-makers in managing COVID – 19.
These experts who spoke at a West Africa bilingual stakeholders’ webinar on science advice in health emergencies organised by the Nigerian Academy Of Science shared some of what they have learned as the battle is far from over, but public health professionals have already learned some valuable lessons about fighting a pandemic.
When COVID -19 occurred, “one has the impression that the system was not sufficient and the government, in particular, felt the need to seek advice from scientists to help them in decision making in the urgent management of the pandemic,” said Akadiri Yessoufou, a professor of Immunology, Cell Biology, Metabolic and Infectious Diseases, University of Abomey- Calavi.
Yessoufou in his presentation said, the Minister of Health set up the Scientific Committee which is responsible for advising him in decision – making and crisis management, especially in a context where there are no effective drugs with scientific evidence speculations abound on social networks.
“The existing structures have favored the proactively of the government in the actions of the response against COVID – 19 but one can easily notice the lack of scientific advice,” he said.
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According to Yessoufou, What COVID – 19 taught us is to establish the scientific advisory system in our procedures and Integrate scientists into decision-making centers, also promote scientific expression and protect scientists from political and economic influence.
Also speaking, Sameh Soror, dean faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University said the Corona pandemic could be considered the biggest real challenge that faced Humanity in the health field in the modern era.
“The pandemic has necessarily emphasized the “well-known”; which is that scientific research is the first line of defense and the weapon of states in the face of epidemics and highly dangerous transboundary diseases.
“This necessitates re-arranging priorities and enforcing the structure of research, development and innovation, accreditation of data analysis sciences and prospective studies and mathematical modeling in epidemic management,” he said.
Proffering solutions, Soror said, post- corona priorities and preparedness plan in the health sector should focus on investing in establishing epidemiological research laboratories with a Biosafety well level lll/lV and accrediting them internationally.
He also said that there is a need for expanding the local manufacture of pharmaceutical raw materials, and activating the road map preciously prepared to the academy, develop clinical and pre-clinical studies and adopting the laws regulating them.
“There is importance in expanding training in the use of information technology in medical and healthcare practices,” Soror said.
