Following the death of a male senior non-commissioned officer of Headquarters 3 Division, Jos Cantonment in January 2019 the 13 Brigade Headquarters of Nigerian Army in collaboration with Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has intensify sensitisation and awareness campaign across it's Barracks in Cross River State beginning at 13 Brigade Headquarters, Akim Qua Town Calabar, Cross River State on Friday.
Speaking, Brigade Commander OT Olatoye, sounded a note of warning to his men, their women and other traders in the Mammy Market that the outbreak of the disease in some part of the country as confirmed by Centre for Disease Control was a strong signal for the people of the state to step up all preventive measures to ensure we don’t lose our men or their families to LASSA FEVER.
Gen Olatoye added that improving personal and environmental hygiene is key to prevention at household level while urging everyone to be wary of rats making contacts with foodstuff.
According to him Prevention of Lassa fever begins with a state of awareness, this disease is very preventable as such no one should die from it.
Speaking, Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu said “we can stop LASSA fever in its track if we all play our part. Cross River state residents need not to panic as the State Governor, Senator Prof Ben Ayade in preparation for any emergency had provided support to the Ministry of Health and SPHCDA with right tools including emergency supplies and deployment of Rapid Response Teams to response promptly.
She tasked the healthcare providers especially those working in army clinics to practise standard precautions at all times, and maintain a high index of suspicion. She reminded them that Lassa fever presents initially like any other disease-causing febrile illness such as malaria. She noted that over 5000 people had lost their lives to the deadly disease last year.
Dr Edu advised members of the public to focus on prevention by practising good personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation by taking effective measures of storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households, and other measures to discourage rodents from entering homes. She noted that Hand washing should be practised frequently as culture.
Earlier Speaking, Lt Colonel M.O Yaya in a brief presentation and lecture noted that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever, extremely virulent and often infectious, occurs very frequently in different parts of Nigeria.
He said Lassa fever is curable when there is rapid laboratory testing to confirm the disease, leading to early commencement of treatment.
“To prevent Lassa fever in the community, everyone are advised to keep their food safe from rats and rat excreta Yaya noted, while urging everyone to cooperate with the Cross River state governments in this response.
The Director General of CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu was honoured with a visitor plague by new commanding officer of 13 Brigade in Calabar.
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