BusinessDay 30 Mar 2018

18 BUSINESS DAY C002D5556
Friday 30 March 2018
Friday 30 March 2018
C002D5556
BUSINESS DAY
19
Lassa fever: Nigeria records 95 deaths in three months
… WHO, NCDC confirm decline in number of reported cases, deaths
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
Lassa fever has claimed
95 lives in Nigeria with
a total of 394 confirmed
reported cases across 19 states
within three months, in a press
statement released by the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC)
NCDC’s latest data shows
that the number of new confirmed
and probable cases has
been falling for five consecutive
weeks, indicating that public
health measures are proving
effective, but more infections
are expected until the end of
the dry season, as the viral
haemorrhagic fever is endemic
to the area.
According to the agency,
since the onset of the 2018
outbreak, 95 people have died
in positive-confirmed cases,
while 30 others have also died
despite being negative, with
9 probable cases still pending.
The Case Fatality Rate in
confirmed and probable cases
is 24.1%.
However, the spread of
Lassa fever in Nigeria is beginning
to slow but the epidemic is
far from contained, the World
Health Organisation and the
Nigeria Centre for Disease
‘Healthy Diet, prevents eye problems’
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
Diet has been described a
key component to protect
our eyes from untimely
damage. Thus, people
are encouraged to watch their
diet and embrace high friendly
foods. Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim,
founder, MAI foundation stated
this while briefing newsmen
shortly after the completion of
the foundation’s Free Medical
Outreach in Kwara State.
Over five thousand Kwarans
have benefited from Muhammed
Ajia Ibrahim (MAI)
Foundation on free eye screening,
treatment and provision of
eye glasses.
The medical exercise which
cut across the three senatorial
districts of the state, within five
days started at Ajia Compound
in Ilorin, the state capital, covered
Offa, Moro, Afon, Share,
Baba nloma, Shonga, Isanlu Isin,
and others.
Speaking on the essence of
the initiative, Ajia Ibrahim, the
Control (NCDC) have warned.
“Between 1 January and 25
March 2018, the NCDC reported
394 laboratory confirmed
cases. There were 18 new confirmed
cases in the last reporting
week (19-25 March 2018),
compared to 54 confirmed
cases a month earlier (19-25
February 2018)” say the report.
Wondimagegnehu Alemu,
WHO Representative to Nigeria
said, “We should interpret the
recent declining trend in new
cases with caution. The Lassa
fever season is not yet over.
We need to maintain vigilance
and response operations, and
ensure continued engagement
with communities to help curb
the further spread of Lassa fever,”
said Alemu.
The current epidemic is Nigeria’s
largest on record, with
the number of confirmed cases
in January and February alone
exceeding the total number
reported in the whole of 2017.
“By conducting research
as the Lassa fever outbreak
unfolds, Nigeria is pioneering
a new approach. Until
now, research in Africa has
taken place much later in the
response cycle. This is a new
approach which opens the way
to much more effective control
of emerging and dangerous
address to commemorate the 2018
World Tuberculosis Day, with the
theme “Find and notify all TB cases
in Nigeria” and the slogan “Wanted:
Leaders for a TB free world”.
The Commissioner said
that every March 24th of every
year was set aside by the World
Health Organisation since 1882
as the World Tuberculosis Day
when Robert kochs announced
the discovery of the germ mycobacterium
tuberculosis that
causes tuberculosis disease,
stressing that TB is a contagious
disease that affect all ages and
kills nearly 5000 people every
day worldwide due to lack of
access to treatment.
Adeduntan added that over
10.4 million people had TB death
in 2017 and there were 1.8 milfounder
said it was borne out
of concern for the people at the
grassroots who cannot afford to
treat their eye problems.
“My foundation is borne out
of concern for our people suffering
and do not have means of
solving their problems. We have
rolled out series of pragrammes
pathogens,” said Alemu.
“We are researching what
has led to so many people
becoming infected with Lassa
fever,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu,
Chief Executive Officer of the
to begin in due course. So, part
of it is the health outreach we
embarked on to help Kwarans
protect their eyes.
“The eyes are essential organs
in the body and a lot of people
are having problems with their
eyes and they cannot afford
the expenses, our programme
NCDC. “Even with a downward
trend, until we can better understand
the causes behind its
rapid spread, we must treat the
outbreak as a priority.” Whole
genome sequencing can reveal
therefore is aimed at giving the
less privileged the opportunity
to know the status of their eyes,
giving them easy consultation,
and they also get treatment
immediately to deter further
problems ,”he said.
“I know a lot of people have
problems and they do not know
information that contributes to the
understanding and the control of infectious
disease outbreaks.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic
illness, transmitted to humans
through contact with food or
who to talk to so they can be cared
for. We are targeting 5000 Kwarans to
benefit from this programme and from
here, we will move to Offa, and we will
continue to go round through three
Senatorial districts to reach the common
people.
“Out of my passion, I contacted the
consultants from Irawo Optical from
Ibadan Oyo State which is internationally
affiliated to give support so as to
save the people’s vision.”
Ibrahim, who expressed satisfaction
with the turnout of people, disclosed
that, “the turnout of people really
encouraged and motivated me, by the
grace of God, if I get better opportunities
in life, I will establish a free eye
hospital for Kwara state.”
He however, revealed that the third
phase which was targeted at 10, 000
people will commence in a week, just
as he promised to continue to render
service to humanity and enjoined well
meaning Nigerians to help the needy.
Some of the beneficiaries who
spoke to BusinessDay commended
the initiator and appreciated him for
the kind gesture. The exercise was well
attended by the children, elderly and
middle aged.
MIKE ABANG, Calabar
household items contaminated by
infected rodents. Person-to-person
transmission can also occur, particularly
in hospital environment in the
absence of adequate infection control
measures.
AKINREMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan
Obaseki to build 3 general hospitals in Edo
… Assures enhanced working conditions for medical personnel
Edo State Governor, Godwin
Obaseki, has unveiled plans to
build three general hospitals in
the three senatorial districts in the
state and assured medical personnel
of improved working conditions for
an effective and efficient healthcare
system in the state.
The governor gave the assurance
when he received executive members
of the Association of Resident
Doctors with the Edo State Hospital
Management Board (SHMB) at the
Government House in Benin City,
Edo State on Monday.
Obaseki said, “This administration
is aware of the challenges confronting
the state healthcare system.
We are working to resolve these
challenges. We have held several
meetings to see how to address the
peculiar problems with the healthcare
system in the state. We have
records of medical personnel and
state of facilities in the healthcare
system in the state.”
HBL TEAM
Oyo offers free TB treatment for residents
The Oyo State Government
says it has offered free
screening and treatment
in all the health facilities across
the state for individuals with
persistent cough suspected to
be Tuberculosis (TB).
The State Commissioner for
Health, Azeez Adeduntan, a
medical doctor said that the free
screening and treatment initiative
of the Governnor Abiola Ajimobi
administration is to reduce
the spread of TB in the society,
noting that all health facilities in
the 33 Local Government Areas
and 35 Local Council Development
Areas (LCDAs) have been
mandated and mobilised to effectively
carry out TB screening
and treatment.
The commissioner enjoined
any individual with persistent
cough to visit health facilities
for check-up, explaining that
the most common symptom of
Tuberculosis is persistent cough
lasting 2 weeks or more which
is accompanied by fever, night
sweat, weight loss, chest pain,
loss of appetite, coughing up of
blood mixed with sputum and
tiredness while the spread of TB
could be attributed to living in
an overcrowded environments,
poor hygienic conditions, indiscriminate
spitting of sputum
and poor cough etiquette, malnutrition,
HIV/AIDS, Diabetes
mellitus and smoking.
He stated this in Ibadan in his
L-R: Vice President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Edo State Hospital Management Board (SHMB), Ehikioya
Eustace; President, Umakhine Carl; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to the State Government
(SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., and Head of Service, Gladys Idahor, during the courtesy visit by new officials of the
association, to the governor at the Government House in Benin City, Edo, on Monday, March 26, 2018.
Obaseki, however, appealed
to the medical doctors
to be patient and continue
to support the reforms of the
KEMI AJUMOBI, Editor - kemi@businessdayonline.com
state government to revamp
the health sector, noting, “The
state government appreciates
efforts of medical doctors.
lion TB deaths in 2016 making it
the top infectious killer disease
Worldwide, saying “Nigeria now
ranks 5th among the 22 Countries
of the world with highest TB
burden coming up from previous
4th position in 2010. This is the
result of scale up and expansion
of TB treatment centre as an
implementation strategy across
all states in Nigeria”.
He allayed the fears that Individuals
suffering from TB need
not be isolated once they are on
treatment but should be encouraged
by the community to attend
clinic regularly, as tuberculosis
can be completely cured provided
the treatment started early and
drugs are taken regularly for the
stipulated length of time required.
The Commissioner reiterated
Government is working to establish
one General Hospital
per local government council
across the state, while one
ANTHONIA OBOKOH, ANI MICHAEL, Reporters I David Ogar, Graphics
on the need to create a neat
and healthier environment in
the state, saying that the state
government will continue to
prioritise cleanliness of its environment.
Adeduntan acknowledged
the unflinching support of
the Damien Foundation Belgium
to the state on TB control
programme, saying that the
foundation has contributed
immensely to infrastructural
and capacity developments
across the State.
He also commended religious
and occupational groups,
civil society organizations and
the media houses for the tremendous
improvements and
support for the TB control
programme.
super General Hospital will be
sited in each senatorial district
for optimal performance.
Noting that the state has
made plans for a health insurance
scheme, he said, “A bill
for a law to set up the State
Health Insurance Scheme is
before the State House of Assembly.
The bill is structured
to make provision for affordable
and accessible healthcare
for people in the state.”
President, Association of
Resident Doctors, Edo State
Hospital Management Board,
Karl Umakhine, said, “The
visit is to enable us present
the challenges confronting
the health sector and to contribute
to the solutions. It is
not true that doctors in the
state don’t report at their duty
post. We work under difficult
conditions but need to be
motivated.”