Health
Communities bear rising cost of disease outbreaks as cases increase – Experts
Diseases
By Racheal Abujah
Abuja, June 26, 2026 (NAN) As Nigeria continues to battle recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases, communities across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are bearing increasing health, social and economic costs, experts have said.
The experts spoke in a separate interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja.
NAN reports that recent reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicate continued cases of Lassa fever, cholera, and other infectious diseases.
These diseases recorded in different parts of the country, are raising concerns about their impact on households and local economies.
Public health experts said that while outbreaks were often measured by the number of cases and deaths recorded, the true burden extended far beyond health facilities.
This, they said, affected livelihoods, education and community well-being.
A Public Health Specialist, Dr Amina Yusuf, said disease outbreaks often forced families to spend scarce resources on treatment, transportation and caregiving, while many breadwinners lose income during illness.
“Outbreaks affect entire communities, not just those who become infected. Families may sell assets, withdraw children from school or take loans to cope with healthcare expenses,” Yusuf said.
According to her, repeated outbreaks can also weaken local economies as markets, farms and small businesses experience disruptions due to illness, fear of infection and movement restrictions.
She said vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and people living in remote areas, often suffered the greatest consequences because of limited access to healthcare services.
She stressed the need for stronger investments in disease prevention, surveillance and primary healthcare systems to reduce the impact of outbreaks on communities.
Another expert, Dr Gabriel Adakole, noted that community trust played a critical role in outbreak response, warning that misinformation and low confidence in public institutions could hinder disease control efforts.
“Communities are the first line of defense during outbreaks.
‘’When people trust health authorities and receive accurate information, they are more likely to report symptoms early and adopt preventive measures,” he said.
Adakole, therefore, urged local leaders, religious institutions and community-based organisations to be actively involved in public health campaigns to improve awareness and encourage timely health-seeking behaviour.
Some residents in some affected communities in the FCT described the challenges they faced during outbreaks, including increased healthcare expenses.
Others were reduced business activities and concerns about the safety of their families.
A Trader, Mrs Grace Okeke, from Durumi, a community in the FCT, said frequent occurrence of malaria, cholera and typhoid had affected customer turnout.
She also said that the diseases had caused increase in household spending on preventive measures and medical care.
“Whenever there is an outbreak, people become more cautious about travelling and gathering in public places. Businesses suffer and families spend more on staying healthy,” Okeke said.
Mrs Chika Offor, Chief Executive Officer, Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), urged governments at all levels to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.
She also urged governments to improve access to healthcare and ensure rapid response to emerging health threats.
Offor argued that addressing the social determinants of health, including poverty, inadequate housing and poor environmental conditions, would help reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
She also urged communities to support disease prevention efforts by maintaining good hygiene practices, seeking prompt medical attention and participating in vaccination and health education programmes.
‘’Sustained collaboration among governments, development partners, healthcare workers and community members remains essential to protecting lives and reducing the growing burden of disease outbreaks,” Offor said.
NAN reports that the experts agreed that while outbreaks may begin as public health emergencies, their consequences are ultimately felt most deeply in homes.
Also, at schools, markets and communities where people struggle daily to cope with their effects. (NAN)
Tags: Communities Cost of Diseases