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Sequel to the report from federal government apprising Abia of an outbreak of the dreaded Lassa Fever disease in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno and Cross River States.
The Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gozie John Ahukannah has reiterated that Abia has not recorded any index case from all the samples previously sent. In his words, Dr. Ahukannah said “knowing fully well that Lassa fever is still lurking around the corner, despite the fact that Abia has not yet recorded any index case from all samples previously sent. The state surveillance team especially the ones in the various LGAs led by the DPH and State Epidemiologist have been sending in their weekly surveillance reports. This committee has remained standing in the last 12months and so Abians need not panic.”
The Commissioner, who related this information in an in-house forum, Abia Online Members platform, also informed that the state Ministry of Health had recently taken delivery of Personal protection materials in addition to reasonable doses of Ribavarin, the drug used for treatment, from the Federal Ministry of Health.
Also in his submission, he briefed that the Department of Public Health (DPH) of the State Ministry of Health will heighten its public health enlightenment activities. In his words, “in the interim, the Public Health Department of the ministry would accentuate its public health enlightenment activities aimed principally at awareness creation on the need to keep away the vectors(Rats) and also enhancing and promoting good personal hygiene by the populace.”
The Health Commissioner further stated that, in the unlikely event of a suspected case presenting to any of our health facilities, whether private or public, with a high index of suspicion, health workers in such facilities are expected to immediately pick up relevant samples for testing/confirmation at the reference virology labs presently located in Ebonyi/Delta/Rivers states and also inform the Public Health Unit of The State Ministry of Health on 08035379453 for necessary escalatory action.
Ubani Newman Ubani
Senior Special Assistant (Gov.) on New Media
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