-Anambra sets panel on emergency response, containment
By Francis Ekpone & Chinedu Nwaneri
Ebonyi Government has berated Federal Government for its poor response to the Lassa fever outbreak, which has claimed many lives since it was reported in the state on January 14. The David Umahi led government made its feeling of disappointment known in Abakaliki while receiving Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health during his visit to the state to ascertain the situation report of the outbreak.
Governor Umahi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, noted its disappointment that the health minister came to the state after the disease had claimed several lives, especially medical personnel.
Hear him: “We are not happy over the development and have declared the outbreak of the disease in the state, even if other affected states have not done that. We know that accessing money from the Federal Government is not easy but we want the health minister to redouble his efforts to ensure that funds and other logistics are released promptly to check such outbreaks.
The Ebonyi helmsman called for the equipping of the south east virology centre, constructed by the State government and handed over to the Federal Government in 2016. “We thought that the [Federal] government should have made the centre operational to make it respond to such outbreaks, as it serves states in South East and neighbouring ones as Benue, Cross River and Akwa Ibom,” Igwe said.
Umahi urged the federal government to release a stabilisation fund to enhance the centre’s operations, adding that the state government had bought a dialysis and a PCR machine for greater efficiency of the centre. “We recorded 16 cases, nine confirmed cases, six suspected cases, one probable index case; eight persons admitted at the virology centre, one admitted in Irrua, Edo. There were four deaths, including two doctors and a nurse and three patients discharged from admissions,” he said.
Adewole, after inspecting the virology, said that the ministry was not informed about the outbreak of the disease on time. “We reacted accordingly immediately we learnt of the outbreak, as the government’s duty is to support states and we expect them to be in a position to respond accordingly.
“We only come to their rescue when the situation is beyond them because there is a Commissioner of Health on ground; this makes us offer only additional support. We are not supposed to take care of the states’ health care, as I have seen patients and staff at the virology centre, we have noted the gaps and would fill in the gaps accordingly,” he said.
Adewole promised that the Federal Government would provide more facilities to the centre in the coming weeks to ensure that it caters for other diseases beyond Lassa fever. “We are not happy whenever we lose health personnel to diseases such as Lassa fever, as we expect them to protect themselves and be preventive-minded by viewing related-symptoms cases firstly, as Lassa fever”.
Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to contain the recent outbreak of Lassa fever rampaging states across the country, the Anambra State government through the State Ministry of Health has set up an Expanded Emergency Response and Containment Committee.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, presided over a brainstorming session of the committee made up of health workers and other relevant stakeholders over the weekend.
The session, Orient Daily learnt, was targeted at reviewing the Lassa fever virus, and presenting a unified approach towards containing the deadly epidemic.
Dr. Akabuike observed that the virus which resurfaced early this year has claimed lives in not less than 11 states across the country, and urged members of the Committee to take Lassa fever sensitization to their different communities.
According to him, “It is unfortunate that this deadly virus also poses great threat to health workers, but we must live up to our responsibility of tackling health issues in the state. It is therefore important that health workers bear in mind the Universal Safety Precaution (USP) while carrying out their duties.
“We are grateful to God that the state has not lost any health worker, and I believe that with proper sensitization and implementation of the committee’s observation, any cases of the virus would be properly handled.”
The Commissioner disclosed plans by the state government to build a Centre for Disease Control that would handle outbreaks of epidemics and other deadly diseases; while reassuring the committee of Governor Willie Obiano’s commitment to tackling health challenges in the state.
Educating the health workers on the virus, Professor Oby Emelummadu, from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, who recalled that the diseases was first discovered in a town called Lassa in Borno State, posited that its spread could be attributed to the combination of ignorance and poverty among others.
She observed that many people are not aware that rats harbor the virus, even after they had died, and advised that proper caution be taken while disposing dead rats.
The erudite advised residents to keep their environment clean; dispose waste properly; wash hands regularly; cover their food always; wash can foods or drinks with soap and water before opening; and avoid any contact with rodents whether dead or alive; as well as dispose any food suspected to have been tampered by rats.
She further advised health workers to report any suspected case of the virus to the state Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) without delay; and to have high index of suspicion when dealing with patients.
Meanwhile residents of Anambra state have been advised to monitor their environment, and to report suspected cases of the virus directly to the State DSNO via 080327440144 and the Assistant DSNO via 08063363604.  Source
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