Table 3.

evidence-informed decision-making for COVID-19 health sector response in Nigeria

Types or forms of evidence	Evidence-informed decisions that were made
Lessons learned from polio eradication initiative and control of previous epidemics	Provided guidance for planning community engagement activities to enhance response and preparedness for COVID-19 at the community levels FG’s establishment of screening at ports of entry, intensification of media sensitization, and free testing of symptomatic patients Early recognition of risks and deployment of non-pharmaceutical pandemic control measures were based on past experiences and successes in epidemic control
Proven interventions/strategies	S-I-N approach was adopted for early recognition and source control for IPC in hospital settings WHO’s “My 5 moments for hand hygiene” is being used to train health workers and educate communities on the steps in hand hygiene Distribution of soaps in IDP camps as part of the hand washing campaigns Engineering and environmental controls such as adequate ventilation, physical distancing and environmental hygiene
Risk assessment & Situation analysis reports	Constitution of a COVID-19 mitigation team was based on an assessment of high risk of importation and local transmission of infection in the country Decision to adopt a multi-sectoral response for the effective containment of COVID-19 was based on recognitions of a weak Nigerian health system Expansion of COVID-19 diagnostic laboratories by NCDC was based on establishment of community transmission trend Decision to relax the lockdown restrictions (while maintaining key limitations to curb a spike in COVID-19 cases) was based on evidence indicative of emerging epidemic control An increase in reporting of sexual violence within one week of the nationwide lockdown necessitated the decision by a non-government agency to violate the lockdown and continue to offer health services to victims of sexual assault Workable solutions for continuing cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic were based on considerations of resource limitations and lack of clinical protocols