The Ebonyi State government has called on health workers to show more commitment in the fight against Lassa fever to safeguard the lives of the citizens.
The state commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma made the call during Lassa fever case management training organized by the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Nigerian Centre for Disease and Control, NCDC and the World Health Organisation, WHO, in Abakaliki on Friday.
Ekuma, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Hyacinth Ebenyi, urged participants to pay attention to the lectures to get acquainted with new techniques to prevent and control the disease.
“Lassa fever remains a critical public health concern in Nigeria. Its recurrent outbreak necessitates a robust and well-prepared healthcare response”.
He appreciated partners, especially the World Health Organization (WHO) and NCDC for the capacity-building workshop aimed at making them know the best practices to eradicate Lassa fever.
On her part, the Technical Officer, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Infectious Hazard Management, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Anais Legand said the training was organized for healthcare workers to provide adequate knowledge on how to recognize cases of Lassa fever and ensure proper treatment to save lives.
“The training is actually composed of two components. One, the first two days are targeting all healthcare workers in all the LGAs (I think it’s 9) that have reported a confirmed case of Lassa fever this year in Ebonyi State”.
“And the second part of the training is focusing on clinical doctors, nurses, specialists at the Federal Teaching Hospital in the Lassa Ward for them to be able to improve their competencies and their skill”.
While she maintained that the disease is caused by rodents, she enjoined people to secure their household items and food to avoid contamination with the fluids of rats
She identified late presentation, late detection and treatment as the cause of death of Lassa fever patients and encouraged the healthcare workers to protect themselves when taking care of patients in order not to be infected.
WHO, NCDC task health workers in Ebonyi on Lassa fever control