Why we can’t tackle Lassa fever like Ebola – Minister
Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has lamented what he described
as the culture of silence permeating the Nigerian society in reaction to
the outbreak of Lassa fever pandemic in the country.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa on
Wenesday, the minister cited the case of Ebonyi State, which had so far
records about five cases of Lassa fever but never cared to report his
Ministry for necessary action.
The minister denied that cases of Lassa fever were hidden, but
admitted there were not brought to the public knowledge until it became
late. His words, “Not that they were hidden but they were never brought
to public knowledge. There is also what we can consider to be culture of
silence in some of our states. For example, we recognised Ebonyi State
as one of the endemic states.
“And since the outbreak, Ebonyi has not recorded a single case or
reported a single case. We despatched our surveillance team to Ebonyi
and we discovered five cases.
“We are not having a resurgence. What we had over the years is a
situation which Lassa is endemic in Nigeria. And as I said on numerous
occasions, we have these outbreaks. In 2012, we had the highest. We have
1700 case and that declined.
“Last year, we had 441 cases. And what has happened is that for the
first time in the history of the country, we are being transparent and
open and we are telling the entire world what the situation is and that
is what is different.
Explaining why the war against Lassa fever may not be fought the way
the country tackled Ebola, the minister said the source of Ebola in
Nigeria was traced to one person that imported it into the country.
According to him, “We can not win the battle against Lassa fever the
same way we won the one against Ebola. Ebola happened to be a single
importation to Nigeria. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria. In 2012, we
had upsurge in 26 states. So, it is there but I can assure you that with
what we put in place this year, we will sign it off.”
He said the federal government was determined to get to the root of
the issue saying, “What we want to do is put across some innovative
funding mechanisms, ability to manage and put to use 10,000 primary
health care centres across the country over the next two years. In the
next 100 days, we will flag off 110 of these centres.
“We will start with the one in Fuka where we first had this outbreak.
We will do one per senatorial district, 109 to make 110 in 100 days.
This year alone, we will do 5000.”
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