Lassa fever: Govt plans Infection Disease Hospital
By Kemi Olatunde
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In order to prevent the spread of Lassa fever, Ondo State Government has said that an Infection Disease Hospital (IDH) will soon be opened in the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro disclosed this while speaking with The Hope in Akure on Wednesday.
According to him government has put in place necessary measures for the smooth running of the facility while it has commenced training for health workers that have been posted there.
“We are currently training health officials who will man the place as treatment of Lassa fever is not what one can just dabble into. Those to take care of them must have themselves protected to prevent them from being infected.
This is why in the last one month, we have been training doctors and nurses who are to work there. They are almost through and when they are done, the IDH will be opened for treatment of cases.”
While reiterating government’s resolve to prevent future outbreak of the epidemic in the state, he commended the Federal Government for taking steps in making fund available for the treatment of Lassa fever in the country saying “it is a welcome development.”
“It is reasonable on the part of Federal Government to raise fund to adequately take care of Lassa fever patients. Lassa fever is highly infectious and it needs to be well taken care of.”
He explained that it is important that patients are treated promptly in order to stop the spread and also live healthy.
The Commissioner noted that there has been a reduction in the spread in the state through government efforts saying “There is now a mobile laboratory in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Owo and this has helped in determining the status of suspected patients on time.”
Describing contact tracing as one of the measures put in place by government to prevent its spread, he stated that scientists are also making efforts in combating the scourge of the virus through the production of vaccines.
