Bauchi State Government has announced plans to establish isolation centers in 3 selected hospitals to manage and control the spread of Lassa fever in the state.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed disclosed this today when he received in audience, officials of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control who visited him at the Council Chamber, Government House Bauchi.
Governor Bala Mohammed said already the state government has taken proactive measures against the spread of the disease in the state through the set up of an emergency outbreak basket fund.
We are delighted to receive you today in the Government House Bauchi to condole us over the outbreak of Lassa fever that resulted in the death of a District Head and others.
We are aware of the measures taken by the NCDC to stop the spread of the disease not only in Bauchi State but across the country in general. We will give you our support to achieve the set objectives.
Represented by his Deputy, Senator Baba Tela, the governor applauded stakeholders in the health sector for their collective efforts at tackling the outbreak of communicable diseases in the state.
I commend our health workers for their commitment in the fight against communicable diseases in the state, on our part, we will give the necessary support.
The leader of the delegation who is the Director-General of the Center Dr. Chikwe said the visit is to condole the government and people of the state over the death of the late Katukan Bauchi and others who lost their lives after contracting Lassa fever disease.
Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Yakubu Abdullahi, Mr. Ihekweazu stressed the need for the state government to embark on a massive awareness campaign as a preventive mechanism against infection with the disease.
” Bauchi is an endemic state as far as Lassa fever disease is concerned, we have learned a lot with the death of the Katukan Bauchi. We are planning to monitor his family for 21 days to assess the situation.
” For all indications, the Bauchi state government is ready to fight against the scourge of the disease, we will support you in the establishment of the isolation centers.”
The Director-General said despite it being a highly infected disease, Lassa fever is a preventable disease if it was reported early.
Source: Office of the SSA Media and Publicity
