--www.thewillnigeria.com

The Medical and Health Workers Union, Lagos State Council, on Saturday said that it would embark on public enlightenment to discourage consumption of soaked garri for now to prevent the spread of Lassa fever.
Mr Razak Adeofalade, the Chairman of the union stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the house rats that caused Lassa Fever are mostly in contact with Nigerian most staple food garri, a cassava product.

“We are going to encourage members of the public to depart from the process of drinking gari at this moment, it is better that the cassava flour is utilised for `eba,’ because of the use of hot water.”

“We are waging total war and that is: `War against Rats,’ and that is what we are going to do to ensure we do not have another victim of Lassa Fever in the state.”
“We will also be telling them to ensure that their fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed if they must be consumed raw and cook to the appropriate temperature.”

“The whole essence is to enlighten our people because education carries a lot of weight in this whole activity,’’ he said.”
Adeofalade added that the union was also calling for adaptation of best practices for food storage to prevent epidemic.
According to him, the union is determined to wage war against rat in the state and public enlightenment on fighting epidemic.
He said his members cut across all government’s hospitals and local governments and would be mobilised to start enlightenment on the evil of rodents.
“We will go into premises, market place and teach them on the best practice of storing of food items from contacts with rodents,’’ he said.

He said the union will be working in collaboration with the Environmental Health Officers to reach out to the grass-roots. (NAN)
--- www.thewillnigeria.com

In a situation wereby majority in nigeria earn below $1 per day,now you said soaked gaari is forbiden,if not gaari sum peaple would have die of hunger,wat am expect from you is to enlighten den how to prevent rat from enterin deir food,#killTHATratB4itKILLu,

Ayoemrys:
In a situation wereby majority in nigeria earn below $1 per day,now you said soaked gaari is forbiden,if not gaari sum peaple would have die of hunger,wat am expect from you is to enlighten den how to prevent rat from enterin deir food,#killTHATratB4itKILLu,

Right. Adequate enlightenment is needed on this delicate issue....

If Nigerians stop taking gari, the rate of death via hunger will be more than the number of deaths caused by lassa fever.

Especially now that economy is biting hard. Here comes a warning to stay away from garri. Brother medical union, some people will say... i better die while sipping it.. I voted for "CHANGE" not to change from garri abeg.
D'banj sey you dey hear ba? Dem won spoil your biznes oo

I believe it's due to rodents urinating on garri during storage. If your garri is stored in an airtight container always I think you'll have minimal risk.