KELGA Assures On Lassa Fever Eradication

The Deputy Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Bestman Amadi, has assured that the local government will muster the needed political will to combat the dreaded Lassa Fever in the area.

Bestman who gave the assurance during the sensitisation campaign organised by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State council at Isiokpo, headquarters of the local government last Thursday said the council would continue to collaborate with NMA and other health workers in the state to eradicate the disease.

Describing the health sector as sensitive, the deputy chairman assured that the council would always provide the necessary assistance to take the sector to greater heights. He urged the people to always keep their environment clean and participate actively in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Also commenting during the programme, one of the facilitators, Dr. Ameodu Nnanda urged people of the state to join the Federal Government to declare war against all rats which is believed to transmit the killer disease.

She said the rats were known by their numerous breasts and long tails among other features.

Describing the disease as a “Silent Boko Haram”, Nnanda said the disease kills fast, saying, it is a disease for doctors rather than for patients. She explained that the disease could be transmitted through contact with an infected person, contaminated food and from rodents to man.

She disclosed that there were no vaccines for the disease for now, adding that though it was a disease for all ages and sexes, pregnant women were at greater risk.

Also speaking, another facilitator, Dr. Sampson Ezeugu urged medical practitioners, health workers and mortuary attendants handling Lassa Fever patients to always put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), adding that essential kits in the PPE should be properly disposed of after use.

Princess Amadi/ Sarah Jacob Princess