Percy Onyeka
The Hon Minister of State for Environment Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako on Tuesday launched the National Deratization framework exercise to prevent and control the spread of Lassa fever in the Country.
The Minister who was respresented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari at the launching of National Deratization framework exercise in Abuja provided an update on the recent outbreak of Lassa Fever reported by 44 Army Refertal Hospital in Kaduna State.
He emphasized that the meeting with the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) provided the etiological pattern of the disease as 12 suspected cases was recorded with 6 mortality, 2 additional cases originated from another facility in Barau Dikko Hospital while 92 persons are under surveillance as contact person.
The Minister, in a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Ibrahim Haruna, further disclosed that delegate from the Ministry who visited the affected the 44 Army Referral Hospital on 25th of February 2024 confirmed that general hygiene and cleanliness and critical measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the disease.
He added, “The team further confirmed the efficacy of the treatment by using an ITP machine and use of sodium hydrochloride in correct proportion and formulation to ensure safety of the facility. The team recommended that the facility be deratized to reduce the population of the disease carrying vector, specifically rats”.
Salako noted that it is the responsibility of the Environment sector to provide solution and make the environment safe but ensure it is unconducive for the vector to grow since it’s iresponsible for the disease.
Earlier, the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr. Yakubu Baba Muhammad said following reiterated the Minister’s directives to ensure facilities like hotels, markets, restaurants and recreation centres undergo derating exercise before Derating Exemption Certificate by EHCON is issued.
He disclosed that the Council has been directed by the Ministry to embark on massive capacity building to update the knowledge of the practioners on the new innovations, new approaches to control and address the disease. “The component of health education, promotion and creation of awareness in the communities also plays an important role” .
“At the community level, the issue of waste management cannot be over emphasized. At this time and period, reminant food should not be exposed while our food stuff and stores should be rats proof. In the character of rats once there is no food, rats vacates the house”, he explained.
He further emphasized that another approach to combat the spread of this disease is by getting to the grassroot noting that it’s a collective responsibility as government is doing their job, citizens should do their parts.
He urged that farmers using roads for drying farm products should be discouraged from doing so as it allows rudents to urinate and pass feaces that contains virus thus contaminating the farm produce.
As the spread of the virus persist, the Registrar also warned communities to desist from taking bush meat as it not safe especially at the affected areas.
AKUDORO GLORIA
