Community health practitioners have been described as players who have vital role to play in the quick response to communicable, uncommuicable diseases, as well as pandemic outbreaks and to the activities of the entire health sector.

This submission came to fore during the 2022 Annual Health Seminar and Get-together tagged: “Community Health: My Concern, Your Concern”, organised by the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (NACHPN), Ogun State Ministry of Health Branch.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, who is also an expert in Community Health Services, Dr. Kayode Salako said the Practitioners should integrate, work as one and play their roles, urging them to always have the spirit of quick respond to outbreaks.

The National Vice President of the Association, Oriola Donnish (JP) while congratulating the members of NACHPN, enjoined them to put their disparities behind them and continue to live in peace and harmony for them to achieve more progress.

Earlier in his address, the Branch Chairman of the Association, Comrade Olusola Afuape said “as community health practitioners, government and communities expect more from us, especially in disease surveillance, preventive and control of communicable endemic diseases, especially in the face of many contagious diseases.

“Therefore all hand must be on deck towards achieving a healthy communities, hence the theme of this year annual seminar “Community Health; My Concern, Your Concern”.

In his presentation titled: Role of Community Health Practitioners In Preventing Re-Emergence of Ebola Virus Diseases, Dr. Phillip Aresokan noted that any ill person who has fever with acute clinical symptoms and signs of hemorrhage, such as bleeding of the gums, bloody stools, blood vomit, among others could be suspected for Ebola, enjoining the practitioners to put on safety elements like surgical masks and gloves to safeguard themselves.

Presenting a lecture on Stemming the Tides Of Depression and Suicide In The Face Of Economy In Our Society: Before Your Stress Become Distress, Dr. Ibrahim Opeewe of Community Mental & Behavioural Department, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta submitted that depression is one of the mental health challenges, especially in the depressed economy, saying positive thinking, healthy nutrition and exercise were the best way of solving depression.