BusinessDay 13 April 2018

16 BUSINESS DAY C002D5556
Friday 13 April 2018
Friday 13 April 2018
C002D5556
BUSINESS DAY
21
Fighting Lassa: Five lessons from three special hospitals
managing most cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria
CHIBUIKE ALAGBOSO
Nigeria is currently
witnessing
its largest Lassa
Fever outbreak
in history. Since
the first case of the virus was
identified in a missionary nurse
working in the village of Lassa in
Borno State in 1969, cases have
continued to increase in Nigeria,
mostly in the states of Edo,
Ondo, and Ebonyi. The anxiety
associated with cases has created
panic in many parts of the
country and affected hospital
operations across the country.
In tackling this Lassa fever
outbreak, three specialist hospitals
have emerged and grown
in capacity and expertise to
manage Lassa fever. These hospitals
serve as examples to other
health facilities in the country as
many hospitals in Nigeria still
struggle with managing cases
of Lassa fever, often leading to
panic. While there are plans to
add to the number of specialist
hospitals with the capacity to
effectively manage Lassa fever
cases, these three hospitals have
shown that it is possible to grow
in expertise in the management
of Lassa fever in Nigeria through
the sheer determination of their
leaders, innovation of their staff
and involvement of the entire
co`mmunity.
Irrua Specialist Teaching
Hospital (ISTH), in Edo State,
Federal Medical Center Owo
(FMC), in Ondo State and the
Federal Teaching Hospital in
Abakaliki (FETHA), have been
remarkable for various reasons.
Most importantly, they provide
care for over 80% of all Lassa
fever cases in Nigeria. These
three centres tell an unlikely
story of how three hospitals
in fairly rural locations have
grown to become the frontline
of Nigeria’s efforts to curb Lassa
Fever. They have risen to the
challenge, shown innovation
despite limited resources, sustained
momentum, created and
nurtured new partnerships and
risen to be trail blazers.
The following are five lessons
that can be learned and adapted
from their efforts in controlling
the current Lassa fever outbreak
in the country and in leadership
generally.
Change requires the engagement
of all stakeholders
The Irrua Specialist Teaching
Hospital ISTH is located 110
km from the historical Benin
City, a two-hour drive across
the rainforest terrain. Over the
past ten years, it has nurtured
the development of the Institute
of Lassa Fever Research and
Control (ILFRC), which now
oversees the management of
Lassa fever cases. Before its
establishment, the number of
people that died from Lassa
fever when sporadic outbreaks
of Lassa fever occurred in the
area was quite high, in some
cases more than 70%. This was
primarily due to late presentation,
poor case identification
and non-availability of the drug
Ribavirin, which is effective in
Lassa fever if administered early
enough. The centre started as a
proactive response to address
these issues and over time, the
figures have continued to improve
remarkably, a reduction
of deaths and an accompanying
increase in confidence. While
ISTH certainly cannot claim to
have found all solutions to all
the challenges, they have developed
unique strengths in the
management of Lassa fever and
currently set the trail for other
health facilities in Nigeria. Irrua
Specialist Teaching Hospital
will definitely be at the heart of
any research planned on Lassa
fever and the community will
benefit from the innovation and
determination of this facility.
Purposeful leadership, systems
and structures as drivers
of sustainable change
Speaking recently at a panel
discussion organised by the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC) in Abuja, CMD of
ISTH, Okogbenin, a Professor,
listed building sustainable systems,
structures, and having
the right people in place as
some of the elements that facilitated
the smooth transition
of leadership from the time of
his predecessors to the current
administration that he leads.
This has helped ensure that new
administrations do not begin
brand new projects to duplicate
previous ones but focus
on scaling up existing systems
and interventions. This obvious
example is a rare characteristic
in our polity in Nigeria, as most
new leaders want to gain recognition
for new projects. In Irrua,
various administrations have
built on the Lassa fever control
systems in place. What began as
a Lassa Fever committee years
ago has now grown to become
the leading institute for Lassa
fever management, detection
and research in Nigeria and
globally.
Collaboration, collaboration,
collaboration
The impact of both local and
international partnerships developed
over time is evident
at both Irrua Specialist Teaching
Hospital, Federal Medical
Centre Owo and the Virology
Centre of the Federal Teaching
Hospital Abakiliki, with partners
contributing significantly
in their areas of strength to help
curb the outbreak. ISTH has a
long-standing partnership with
the Bernhard-Nocht Institute of
Tropical Medicine, Hamburg,
Germany. This has not only led
to contribution of resources for
Lassa fever diagnosis and treatment,
but also capacity building
of local staff who are continuously
trained on global best
practices. A remarkable feat
from this strong collaboration
is the ongoing establishment
of a state-of-the-art molecular
research and diagnostic laboratory
within the Lassa fever
Institute.
Leaving no one behind
Martha Okonofua, Matron at the Lassa fever isolation ward, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State. Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
SKG fetes trade partners, introduces Lumal Dispersible Malaria tablets for infants
VICTOR OBAYAGBONA
SKG Pharma Limited,
makers of
a wide range of
pharmaceutical products,
recently had its
trade partner’s conference
in Lagos. The conference
is an annual
event aimed at rewarding
and engaging the
company’s core trade
partners across the
nation on challenges
and profitability in the
pharmaceutical trading
business.
While there is still much that
can be done at the Federal
Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki,
a resident doctor and epidemiologist
working in the hospital
said the hospital has taken proactive
steps following the loss
of some colleagues to Lassa in
January 2018. These include
mandatory health education of
all employees on Lassa Fever,
revamping of the virology centre,
strengthening the activities
of the Lassa Fever committee,
developing and conspicuously
displaying case management
protocols, effective collaborations
with other treatment
centres, State Ministry of Health and
other state agencies. Ahmed Adeagbo
Liasu, Chief Medical Director of FMC
Owo, praised the commitment of
his staff working on the Lassa Fever
response. “These colleagues are not
just government workers, because
this is not their usual routine. They
volunteered to be part of the Emergency
Operations Centre, and they
work even in the face of panic and
limited resources.”
Taking advantage of the opportunity
in crisis situations
In 2017, Nigeria had only three diagnostic
centres with the capacity
to test for Lassa fever- Lagos Univer-
sity Teaching Hospital (LUTH), ISTH
and the NCDC’s National Reference
Laboratory, Gaduwa. In Abakaliki,
a virology centre had been built but
was yet to be operationalised. By the
end of January 2018, FETHA had
faced a difficult situation as it had
not only lost members of its host
community to Lassa fever, but health
workers had also been infected. The
hospital had depended on ISTH, a
three-hour drive from Ebonyi for diagnosis
which affected early initiation
of treatment.
In retrospect, 2018 has seen one of
the biggest outbreaks in the history of
Lassa fever epidemics in Nigeria and
globally.
Okey Akpa, managing
director of SKG Pharma
Limited, said: “The essence
of this trade conference is
to encourage and get feedback
on profitability and
challenges faced in the last
year and how we can help
with those challenges in
order to bring about profitability
in business.
It is my conviction this
year will be better than
last year, as we break new
grounds in the industry.”
The most outstanding
HBL TEAM
Cleaning, positive behavioural changes can prevent disease-ridden environments
…as Hypo sensitise Lagos residents on environmental hygiene
As Nigeria battles with
outbreak of meningitis
and Lassa fever, recording
hundreds of deaths this year, a
leading hygiene solution brand,
HYPO has partnered with the
Lagos State Government, to
sensitise the public on household
and environment hygiene
as a preventive measure against
diseases.
The exercise, “Team Up to
Clean Up” was part of activities
to mark this year’s World
Health Day, as residents of Ifelodun
Community in Bariga,
participated in the clean-up
exercise clearing the streets and
drainages in the community to
enhance their wellbeing.
Timothy Arowosegbe, marketing
manager, Hypo said being
the leading brand in the
category of household cleaning.
Sanitation is geared towards
the protection and promotion
of public health which meant
the improvement of the environment
and we recognize our
responsibility to the society
through this, therefore deemed
it right to make contributions
to the betterment of the society.
“The initiative is aimed at
cleaning, sensitising and influencing
positive behavioural
changes towards good hygiene
and sanitation habits in the people
in order to maintain environmental
hygiene so as to prevent
disease-ridden environments.
“Hypo has become a phenomena
household brand and
there are no better ways to give
back to its consumers than
through this initiative of influencing
a positive behaviour for
trade partners from every
state and region of
the country were recognised
and appreciated
with awards plaques
and gifts. The top three
trade partners for 2017
were Onuachu Chijioke
of Jaymor Pharmacy,
Chizoba Okeke of Jonaco
Pharmacy, and
Ignatus Onah of New
Health Pharmacy, respectively.
The event also witnessed
the unveiling of
KEMI AJUMOBI, Editor - kemi@businessdayonline.com
L- R: Marketing Manager, Hypo, Timothy Arowosegbe; Ifelodun CDA Chairman, Bariga Lagos, Babatunde Hakeem Musa; Hypo
Special Appearance Celebrity, Fatiah Williams and Hypo Brand Representative, Aderinto Adetunji during the Hypo Team Up to Clean
Up World Health Day Sanitation and enlightenment exercise in Bariga, Lagos.
hygiene in the residents of communities,”
said Arowosegbe.
He further disclosed that
poor sanitation kills around
5,250,000 children (under five)
every year around the world.
“Sadly, Nigeria is one of
the contributors to the most
number of child deaths due to
poor sanitation disease globally.
Statistics by World Health Organization
(WHO) and UNICEF in
2015, approximately 2.4 billion
people live in poor sanitation
conditions.
“Cleanliness is not a choice;
to stay healthy; cleanliness must
be imbibed as an essential way of
life. If we have a cleaner environment,
there is a good chance that
most of the avoidable diseases
tormenting us like malaria, typhoid,
dysentery and Lassa fever
would be far away and this can
the latest product from
the stable of SKG Pharma:
Lumal Dispersible
Malaria Tablets. Specifically
formulated to
address the treatment
needs of children within
the age group of 0-5.
Lumal is pleasant tasting
disperses easily in
small amount of water
and has the accurate
dosage of 20/120ml.
Marketing manager,
SKG Pharma Limited,
Victoria Okon, while
only be achieved through individual
responsibility to manage
the waste generate on a daily
basis by disposing them the right
way,” said Arowosegbe.
Also speaking at the event,
Babatunde Musa, Ifelodun local
Council Development Area
(LCDA) Bariga Chairman, explained
that the decision to partner
with Hypo was to collaborate
with a health inclined brand that
has the wellbeing of the community
as their number one desire
through the realisation of a clean
and healthy nation.
“We believe that Hypo has
started with the introduction
of affordable bleach for all and
also affirmed that this would
definitely not be the last partnership
between the company and
the community,” he said.
The clean-up exercise led
presenting the new
product, said, “For a
while there has been
a dearth in acquiring
and administering the
accurate malaria drug
for infants in this part
of the world. Malaria
tablets are forcefully
given to kids because
of the unpleasant taste.
This has the most unsatisfactory
result as most
times, the dosage is not
right and children will
naturally spill it out of
ANTHONIA OBOKOH, ANI MICHAEL, Reporters I David Ogar, Graphics
by popular Nollywood actress
Fathia Williams gained huge
participation by immediate residents
as everyone joined hands
using Hypo products to clear
the gutters with unprecedented
enthusiasm.
While appealing to parents,
women and guardians as a
mother, Fathia places an emphasis
on the importance of
healthy living through good
public health practices that
influences and impact on the
physical environment and sanitation
of the community.
Hypo, a division of Tolaram
Africa Enterprises Ltd provided
clean-up tools such as latex hand
gloves rakes, nose mask, shovels,
stick brushes, bowls, buckets,
brooms, parkers, and sanitary
waste bags and doled out hypo
bleach products to residents.
their mouths.
With Lumal dispersible
malaria tablets,
administration will be
easier, resulting to effective
treatment of the
malaria fever in kids.”
Managing director of
SKG Pharma Limited,
Akpa, urged trade partners
to patronise quality
products made in Nigeria,
as it was one way to
create job opportunities
and improve the wellbeing
of the economy.