At the time of writing this essay, Nigeria has lost 44 of her citizens to the dreaded Lassa Fever which like the equally dreaded Ebola Virus Disease is a haemorrhagic fever that spreads easily from one person to another even at the slightest of contacts. The two diseases need a comprehensive action plan involving the people and relevant agencies, local and international, as led and mobilised by government who deploys all resources necessary, be it human, cash and material, to tackle the menace headlong before it ravages the citizenry. That the disease has claimed 44 lives already within a short period of time shows how deadly it can be. The Ebola virus which caused a worldwide stir in 2014 and claimed about 11, 000 lives in West Africa alone when the epidemic occurred that year, can be considered to be more fearsome because of the number of casualties it claims per occurrence and its rapid spread to even Europe and the US which also lost some seven citizens together in the outbreak. However, with all its threats and spread; with all its fame for defying medicine, the then government of Presdient Goodluck Ebele Jonathan rose up to the occasion and confronted that monster with total commitment and vigour, mobilising government agencies, personnel and other resources; sensitising schools, offices, churches/ mosques etc while equipping hospitals and other public places with anti-Ebola kits and releasing the sum of N200million each to Lagos and Rivers States which had reported cases of the disease then despite the states being led by APC, the then opposition party, the disease could not do much damage to Nigeria contrary to genuine fears and worry expressed by the international community then. Although outbreak of the disease was reported in West Africa, precisely Guinea, in March 2014, it did not give the world much concern until it was brought into Nigeria by a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer. The moment the Ebola disease found its way into Nigeria, the alarm bell was rung all over the world because of Nigeria’s population and her lack of expertise to handle such an outbreak. However, with President Jonathan’s commitment, drive and patriotic approach to the fight against the disease, Nigeria managed to still eventually lose seven of her dear citizens while Europe lost three and the US lost 4. However, Liberia has lost 4,809, Guinea lost 2,536 and Sierra Leone lost 3,955. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) commended “… the Nigerian Government’s strong leadership and effective coordination of the response that included the rapid establishment of an Emergency Operations Centre… strong public awareness campaigns, teamed with early engagement of traditional, religious and community leaders, also played a key role in successful containment of this outbreak”, hence, Nigeria was declared Ebola-free on October 20, 2014, exactly just three months after the first reported case. Thereafter, Nigeria had the luxury of even sending health workers to other sister African nations affected by the disease to assist them combat it. Furthermore, the WHO Country Director in Abuja, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, described Nigeria’s exemplary handling of the outbreak as a “spectacular success story.” It was, indeed, a commendable achievement. In spite of all these achievements and accolades poured on Nigeria then for this rare feat, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the then major opposition party, tried several times to politicise the issue and distract the Jonathan administration from focusing on tackling the disease headlong so they could use it as one of their campaign issues against the then president, an issue which resulted in the PDP and Jonathan chiding the APC on different occasions for politicising what would have been a national disaster on all citizens irrespective of party affiliation, ethnic background or religious leaning but for government efforts. Fast forward to 2016, and with the outbreak of the Lassa Fever which was officially declared by the federal government in January 2016, despite the Minister of Health saying it has been with us for 6 weeks (as at 8 of January, 2016), yet, the Lassa fever has killed 44 Nigerians as at January 18, and distracted by the so-called corruption cases deliberately churned up by the authorities as a decoy to parry the attention of Nigerians from other urgent national matters, Nigerians do not seem to be asking questions as to why the high fatalities within such a short period of time. With the death toll of Lassa fever reaching 44 and the possibility of it climbing higher, one can only thank God that Buhari and his party, APC, were not in power when Nigeria and indeed West Africa suffered the Ebola outbreak. It would have been a monumental disaster. It is sickening, smacks of gross incompetence and a display of high level of crass irresponsibility on the part of our government of the day to be talking about setting up a National Action Committee to tackle the outbreak nearly three weeks after its emergence was officially declared. The Action Committee would be inaugurated at an Emergency National Council on Health meeting. The question is, what is “emergency” about calling a council meeting over a disease that has been allowed to ravage citizens for so long? Why did it have to take the intervention of the Senate via its committee on health for the Buhari administration to be talking of a council meeting to tackle the fever? Why did we have to wait for 44 of our citizens to die before action is being taken? Under Jonathan, Ebola could only spread to three states of Lagos, Enugu and Rivers before it was effectively contained. Why did we have to now wait for this Lassa fever to spread to 10 states before waking up from our slumber? Surely, there is a lax attitude from this government towards the wellbeing of its citizens. It is obvious this government lacks any action plan for its citizens whether in health, employment, economy, education, social welfare, infrastructure etc. When compared to the progress made under the Jonathan administration and the commendations the country received from all over the world with regard to the dogged fight put up against Ebola disease, one would have thought that Nigeria should only improve on that in tackling any disease of similar trait. But with the Lassa fever saga, it has become obvious, and another incontrovertible proof that the “Change” promised Nigerians during the campaigns is nothing but a change for the worse. Lastly, in the interest of the nation and fellow citizens, I will advise the Buhari administration and the APC to eat the humble pie and approach the PDP for advice on how best to tackle this latest disease before it ravages all of us, and as a responsible and patriotic party, I will also strongly advise the PDP not to withhold any information and or resources from APC when they are approached for advice and expertise. This country belongs to all of us and we must see to it that our citizens are defended stoutly against any disease, no matter how deadly!

summary please

kelvee:
At the time of writing this essay, Nigeria has lost 44 of her
citizens to the dreaded Lassa Fever which like the equally
dreaded Ebola Virus Disease is a haemorrhagic fever that
spreads easily from one person to another even at the
slightest of contacts. The two diseases need a
comprehensive action plan involving the people and
relevant agencies, local and international, as led and
mobilised by government who deploys all resources
necessary, be it human, cash and material, to tackle the
menace headlong before it ravages the citizenry. That the
disease has claimed 44 lives already within a short period of
time shows how deadly it can be.
The Ebola virus which caused a worldwide stir in 2014 and
claimed about 11, 000 lives in West Africa alone when the
epidemic occurred that year, can be considered to be more
fearsome because of the number of casualties it claims per
occurrence and its rapid spread to even Europe and the US
which also lost some seven citizens together in the
outbreak.
However, with all its threats and spread; with all its fame for
defying medicine, the then government of Presdient
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan rose up to the occasion and
confronted that monster with total commitment and
vigour, mobilising government agencies, personnel and
other resources; sensitising schools, offices, churches/
mosques etc while equipping hospitals and other public
places with anti-Ebola kits and releasing the sum of
N200million each to Lagos and Rivers States which had
reported cases of the disease then despite the states being
led by APC, the then opposition party, the disease could not
do much damage to Nigeria contrary to genuine fears and
worry expressed by the international community then.
Although outbreak of the disease was reported in West
Africa, precisely Guinea, in March 2014, it did not give the
world much concern until it was brought into Nigeria by a
Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer. The moment the Ebola
disease found its way into Nigeria, the alarm bell was rung
all over the world because of Nigeria’s population and her
lack of expertise to handle such an outbreak. However, with
President Jonathan’s commitment, drive and patriotic
approach to the fight against the disease, Nigeria managed
to still eventually lose seven of her dear citizens while
Europe lost three and the US lost 4. However, Liberia has
lost 4,809, Guinea lost 2,536 and Sierra Leone lost 3,955.
Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) commended “…
the Nigerian Government’s strong leadership and effective
coordination of the response that included the rapid
establishment of an Emergency Operations Centre… strong
public awareness campaigns, teamed with early
engagement of traditional, religious and community
leaders, also played a key role in successful containment of
this outbreak”, hence, Nigeria was declared Ebola-free on
October 20, 2014, exactly just three months after the first
reported case. Thereafter, Nigeria had the luxury of even
sending health workers to other sister African nations
affected by the disease to assist them combat it.
Furthermore, the WHO Country Director in Abuja, Dr. Rui
Gama Vaz, described Nigeria’s exemplary handling of the
outbreak as a “spectacular success story.” It was, indeed, a
commendable achievement.
In spite of all these achievements and accolades poured on
Nigeria then for this rare feat, the All Progressives Congress
(APC), the then major opposition party, tried several times
to politicise the issue and distract the Jonathan
administration from focusing on tackling the disease
headlong so they could use it as one of their campaign
issues against the then president, an issue which resulted in
the PDP and Jonathan chiding the APC on different
occasions for politicising what would have been a national
disaster on all citizens irrespective of party affiliation, ethnic
background or religious leaning but for government efforts.
Fast forward to 2016, and with the outbreak of the Lassa
Fever which was officially declared by the federal
government in January 2016, despite the Minister of Health
saying it has been with us for 6 weeks (as at 8 of January,
2016), yet, the Lassa fever has killed 44 Nigerians as at
January 18, and distracted by the so-called corruption cases
deliberately churned up by the authorities as a decoy to
parry the attention of Nigerians from other urgent national
matters, Nigerians do not seem to be asking questions as to
why the high fatalities within such a short period of time.
With the death toll of Lassa fever reaching 44 and the
possibility of it climbing higher, one can only thank God that
Buhari and his party, APC, were not in power when Nigeria
and indeed West Africa suffered the Ebola outbreak. It
would have been a monumental disaster.
It is sickening, smacks of gross incompetence and a display
of high level of crass irresponsibility on the part of our
government of the day to be talking about setting up a
National Action Committee to tackle the outbreak nearly
three weeks after its emergence was officially declared. The
Action Committee would be inaugurated at an Emergency
National Council on Health meeting. The question is, what is
“emergency” about calling a council meeting over a disease
that has been allowed to ravage citizens for so long? Why
did it have to take the intervention of the Senate via its
committee on health for the Buhari administration to be
talking of a council meeting to tackle the fever? Why did we
have to wait for 44 of our citizens to die before action is
being taken? Under Jonathan, Ebola could only spread to
three states of Lagos, Enugu and Rivers before it was
effectively contained. Why did we have to now wait for this
Lassa fever to spread to 10 states before waking up from
our slumber?
Surely, there is a lax attitude from this government towards
the wellbeing of its citizens. It is obvious this government
lacks any action plan for its citizens whether in health,
employment, economy, education, social welfare,
infrastructure etc.
When compared to the progress made under the Jonathan
administration and the commendations the country
received from all over the world with regard to the dogged
fight put up against Ebola disease, one would have thought
that Nigeria should only improve on that in tackling any
disease of similar trait. But with the Lassa fever saga, it has
become obvious, and another incontrovertible proof that
the “Change” promised Nigerians during the campaigns is
nothing but a change for the worse.
Lastly, in the interest of the nation and fellow citizens, I will
advise the Buhari administration and the APC to eat the
humble pie and approach the PDP for advice on how best
to tackle this latest disease before it ravages all of us, and as
a responsible and patriotic party, I will also strongly advise
the PDP not to withhold any information and or resources
from APC when they are approached for advice and
expertise. This country belongs to all of us and we must see
to it that our citizens are defended stoutly against any
disease, no matter how deadly!

presido buhari's constituency is lagging behind nd needs external advice

buharia do not know what to do in aso rock, he can only blame Gej and this will not be an exemption. Nigeria ndonu oo

Zombies say GEJ was clueless yet Ebola was managed effectively with only a few lives lost, as for PMB, i still do not understand how a former army general cannot defeat an army of rats that have been killing his citizens.

Pidggin:
Zombies say GEJ was clueless yet Ebola was managed effectively with only a few lives lost, as for PMB, i still do not understand how a former army general cannot defeat an army of rats that have been killing his citizens.

who knows Maybe he's musophobic...

Which ebola,what did he do about it?.me man, say LASG's ebola vs PMB's lassa.

kelvee:
who knows Maybe he's musophobic...

Maybe

Lanretoye:
Which ebola,what did he do about it?.me man, say LASG's ebola vs PMB's lassa.

PMB needs to put more efforts on eradicating LASSA fever !

PMB IS JUST CLUELESS
ONLY FOOLs HAV REFUSED TO SEE BEYOND THEIR NOSE...
EBOLA WAS MORE DEADLY THAN LASSA FEVER... YET JONATHAN ERADICATED IT

Bennyschools:
buharia do not know what to do in aso rock, he can only blame Gej and this will not be an exemption. Nigeria ndonu oo

Do you illitrates know there was a break out of lassa fever last year, in 2014 and a more deadlier spread in 2012?

www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29868394

sunnewsonline.com/new/8-doctors-4-nurses-others-contract-lassa-fever-in-ebonyi/

www.360nobs.com/2014/10/oyo-state-reports-outbreak-of-lassa-fever/

grafikii:


Do you illitrates know there was a break out of lassa fever last year, 2014 and in more deadlier spread in 2012?

www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29868394

sunnewsonline.com/new/8-doctors-4-nurses-others-contract-lassa-fever-in-ebonyi/

www.360nobs.com/2014/10/oyo-state-reports-outbreak-of-lassa-fever/

it actually broke out first in 1969 in borno state

What did Jonathan do about ebola.
Fashola and the lagos commissioner of health were the brain behind it all.Even the money voted for fighting ebola was only released when ebola had already disappeared.
Or you think we cannot remember when the enugu ebola suspect was transferred to lagos.
They should have moved that person to Abuja. Abi no be there national hospital dey.

It will interest you to note that the way Nigerians treated the ebola virus is different from the way they are treating the laser fever. Why? Because they thought that ebola is more deadly and also the opposition party then (APC) didn't play politics with ebola virus as the opposition now is (PDP)is trying to do

All this pained writers who have failed to get over GEJ's loss at the polls, there were lots of death attributed to Lassa fever under Jonathan, it was actually under reported.

https://www.nairaland.com/1966110/new-outbreak-lassa-fever-oyo 2014
http://www.channelstv.com/global/news_details.php?nid=31451&cat=Local Lassa Fever Outbreak: 13 Dead At Federal Medical Center In Jalingo, Taraba 2012

Lanretoye:
Which ebola,what did he do about it?.me man, say LASG's ebola vs PMB's lassa.

The last time I checked, ebola got to more than 3 states in Nigeria.. You people don't want to give him credit for the success of ebola but foolishly want to blame him for the reoccurence of lassa fever.. How pathetic

Trying to score cheap political point with Lassa fever I think is insane. Every hand must be on deck to defeat this monster.... To puncture your joy Lassa killed over 1000 in 2012 in Nigeria ...what else...#lassamustbedefeated

If Goodluck Ebere Jonathan was supported by all Nigerians both Northerners and South western Nigeria. He should have be the best president that Africa have ever produce. Hatred kill faster than HIV, Criticisms kill fast than Ebola, Propaganda kills the immune system. It is too late to cry why the head is off.

lilygabriel08:
summary please

Buhari is dull and those who voted him are dull.


Did you vote him?

I think we should just leave the past and focus on TODAY...LASSA fever must go...

Frankiss44:


The last time I checked, ebola got to more than 3 states in Nigeria.. You people don't want to give him credit for the success of ebola but foolishly want to blame him for the reoccurence of lassa fever.. How pathetic

who be this one self?...you can't just be talking with ur as**ole instead of ur mouth.

Lanretoye:
who be this one self?...you can't just be talking with ur as**ole instead of ur mouth.

GEJ is a hero. The only agenda APC have is propaganda of which buhari and Lie Mohammed is good at.
What happened to 1dollar per 1Naira, 1meal per day, N5k to unemployed youth, N70 per litre of fuel.
Governance is not just all about fight against corruption. Nigerians should brace up cos we are in for a lonnnggg thinnnggg...

i don't know why buari dullard thought dat cattle rearing is similar to governance. if he stucked to his true calling (cattle herder), we wouldn't be experiencing dis calamities. see how lassa fever is killing pipul like cows. buari govt is d worst tin to have happen to d con3.
Buari dullard should resign immediately.

Pidggin:
Zombies say GEJ was clueless yet Ebola was managed effectively with only a few lives lost, as for PMB, i still do not understand how a former army general cannot defeat an army of rats that have been killing his citizens.

buari dullard became a soldier through d back door. he's not a real soldier.

Lanretoye:

who be this one self?...you can't just be talking with ur as**ole instead of ur mouth.

another zombie on the roll

Lwkmd!!!...hatred and blames cannot lead to anything positive...although its kinda necessary ,we just need to put our heads togeda and clean up our mess...cus rats no dey ASO ROCK ooo!...#saynotoLASSA

grafikii:


Do you illitrates know there was a break out of lassa fever last year, in 2014 and a more deadlier spread in 2012?

www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29868394

sunnewsonline.com/new/8-doctors-4-nurses-others-contract-lassa-fever-in-ebonyi/

www.360nobs.com/2014/10/oyo-state-reports-outbreak-of-lassa-fever/

e be lik say na u n buharia educate pass 4 nija. see how Gej rushed into action and kicked out Ebola. buharia no even care about who won die 4 lasa. I hear say ppl too sufa 4 1983, chai I no go sufa. Biafra oya com jare mey we joli

Bennyschools:


e be lik say na u n buharia educate pass 4 nija. see how Gej rushed into action and kicked out Ebola. buharia no even care about who won die 4 lasa. I hear say ppl too sufa 4 1983, chai I no go sufa. Biafra oya com jare mey we joli

Illitrate.

grafikii:

Illitrate.

looools why is the truth hurting you like this. No vex oo, oya mak una give cold water

EternalTruths:

Buhari is dull and those who voted him are dull.

Did you vote him?

tufia kwa, chineke ama kwe