Paul Obi writes on strategies to confront the Lassa fever epidemic, which have caused suspense and panic across states
With the outbreak of Lassa fever, the spread of the virus to 17 states has compounded the situation. The transmission of the virus has been fueled by movement of persons and contact with carriers of the virus. Panic and fear has increased even as health officials struggle to curb the disease.
Out of the 17 states the disease has spread to; the hotbed states include Bauchi, Edo, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Taraba and Rivers. In Bauchi, where the current phase of the virus was recorded, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Saidu Aliyu Gital said the state remains under surveillance. For Niger, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, said the state government has expedite action in educating locals and quelling ignorance - responsible for the spread of the disease in Fuka community to other areas.
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In Edo State, efforts have been made to strengthen health facilities in the state in order to prevent further spread of the virus. With one of the treatment centres in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State, it is believed that the virus would not have much impact there. Beside the fear and panic associated with moving Lassa fever patients to the state for treatment and diagnosis, health officials are highly at risk in the state. In Kano, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. KabiruGetso said though the state has recorded some confirmed cases, only two deaths have been recorded. Getso explained that Kano State has put in place effective measures to prevent further spread of the virus across the state. The commissioner further stated that public awareness campaign has been taken to motor parks and other public places to ensure that Lassa fever was not transported to the state.
For Rivers State, centres have been built to cater for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the virus. In Plateau State where there have been reported cases, surveillance and monitoring continue. In Abuja, where the virus was imported from Plateau State, monitoring and contact tracing are on going as well.
Also, in an effort to ensure adequate treatment of the virus, the federal government has designated six centres across the country for treatment and diagnosis.
The treatment centres include; National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Asokoro, Abuja; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
Beyond creating the above centres for Lassa fever treatment, the federal government during the week moved a step further to map out all Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the country. THISDAY gathered that the move may not be unconnected with the inability of health officials in Bauchi, Kano and Niger States to track patients and report same to the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole at the inauguration of the committee to map out all the PHCs in the country, explained that the committee has become imperative, following the various lapses and gaps occasioned during the current outbreak of Lassa fever. Adewole contended that this is to ascertain the number and locations of PHCs available in the country, and also to determine how many are functional or otherwise.
He said the ministry planned a “one PHC per Ward Programme,” a situation where each ward would have at least one functional PHC." He stated that government's target was to rehabilitate 10,000 PHCs within two years to scale up healthcare service delivery. The committee which is to be chaired by Prof. Michael Asuzu, Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has 11 members and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) building would serve as secretariat.
The terms of reference of the committee include; "to conduct mapping of all PHCs in the country, using available resources data from all relevant departments, MDAs and other stakeholders, to determine the functionality of PHC in every political ward in the country. It also entailed "determining service availability in each of the PHCs in every political ward, human resources and equipment; to propose strategy for strengthening referral systems between PHC and higher hospitals in given geographical area and to perform any other assignment determined by the minister." Speaking, Asuzu assured that the committee would work according to the terms of reference and will ensure that it is guided by the zeal to turn a credible report.
By: Paul Obi
This Day News
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