The outbreak of Lassa fever across the country sent shivers down the spines of many Nigerians, particularly residents of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi which were the worst hit with the scourge. In Edo, a significant proportion of the Local Government Areas in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts of the state were affected.

The fear was heightened bythe level of poverty of Nigerians put at over 60 per cent living below the poverty line of less than $1 per day. But many thanks to the “Wake and See” Governor who has been on top of the situation since the outbreak in Edo and has won accolades from both the Federal Government and the World Health Organisatiion as well as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Edo State Government from various information available to members of the public, approved a marshal plan to contain the spread of Lassa fever and provision of essential materials for health centres to address any emergency in the state.
The governor took proactive steps and met with stakeholders in the health sector and other allied sectors on how to address and prevent further spread of the disease.

Last week came the cherry news that the Edo State Government’s proactive efforts have paid off as no Lassa Fever death has been recorded in the past two weeks at the Institute of Lassa Fever Control and Research domiciled at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, since equipment purchased by Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration were deployed to the Institute.

The Federal Government-owned Irrua Teaching Hospital designated as the centre to manage the disease lacked the needed equipment to deal with the scourge which led to loss of several lives and many others on the danger list. Worried by the implication of the state of affairs at the hospital, Governor Godwin Obaseki, ordered the immediate release of N100 million as first tranche payment for the procurement of four dialysis machines, ventilators, Personal Protective Equipment, drugs and other consumables required for the treatment of Lassa Fever patients.

His order was also sequel to reports of the rising number of Lassa Fever patients brought from across the country to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State, the only specialist facility for the treatment of the disease in Nigeria and the whole of West Africa sub-region.

The governor directed his commissioner for health, David Osifo, to deliver the equipment within 24 hours and make them available for use at the hospital.

He also ordered his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie and the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, to intensify Lassa Fever awareness campaign in all nooks and crannies of the state.

In effect, a two-prong approach was adopted by the government-providing the needed resources and creation of awareness. Within the time he gave, the equipmentwas delivered to the hospital. They include two dialysis machines, one x-ray machine, a ventilator and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), were deployed to the center to fast-track the state’s preparedness to ward off Lassa Fever outbreak in the state.

The governor also directed the refurbishing of the Institute, especially the renovation of the water system at the facility; the state-wide awareness creation campaign on television, radio; market storms to major markets in the three Senatorial Districts; reactivation of the contact tracing system and the emergency response systems in the state.

From every indications, Governor Godwin Obaseki is truly committed to the plight of the common man as he has demonstrated this in a number of ways including the war against Lassa Feverwhich he is now winning.

It is obvious that Governor Godwin Obasekiprioritises the lives of Edo people, hence his government did not fold its arms when Lassa Fever of such magnitude broke out in the state. It goes to show that he is not a man that pays lip service to major issues or politicizes them when action is what is needed.

To effectively deal a devastating blow on the scourge,the Edo State Government alsoreactivated its Rapid Response Team and commenced contact tracing for confirmed cases of the disease.The state government is also working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for case management and disease surveillance.

What is good about the State government’s approach which is yielding results faster than anticipated is that it is multi-sectoral involving the Ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Information, all working together to put measures in place that will stop the further spread of the disease.

Most importantly was the step taken by the government to improve access to water and sanitation in the state. Within the period under review, the State Executive Council chaired by the Governor approved N600 million as counterpart funding to enable the state government access N1.4 billion European Union and UNICEF funding for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

The project is expected to cover provision of clean water as well as toilets and other sanitation facilities in rural communities. It is also aimed at reducing open defecation which is a menace in the rural areas and aids the breeding of rodents that transmit the Laser fever disease.

All of these helped to earn the governor accolades for a job well done. First was the Federal Government which eulogized the State Government for rising up to the occasion of the outbreak of the pandemic in the state and making the IrruaCenre for the control of the disease effective.

Next was the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which commenced work with the Edo State Government to bring Lassa Fever outbreak in the country to an end.They commended the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for the state government’s purposeful and strategic response to the outbreak of the disease, not only in the state, but the country at large.

Coordinator, Lassa Fever Outbreak Response Team in Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Musa when he visited the Governor said, “The prompt response of the state government in containing the outbreak of Lassa Fever disease in the state is highly commendable. The approach adopted to halt the spread of the disease was strategic. We commend the state government for the facility set up to assist the Institute for Lassa Fever Control and Research at the Specialist Hospital, Irrua. This includes the Isolation Center and Emergency Operation Center.”

Edo people cannot sit back when other Nigerians and foreigners come to the state to commend our Governor for achieving this commendable feat. We in Edo State need to recognize the work done by our Governor and commend him because, according to our Edo common saying, Okponwense, Ovwenaruovbere. A thankful person calls for morefavour to be done.

• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.