The Edo State Government is rallying stakeholders, including religious, traditional and community leaders to contain the spread of Lassa fever across communities in the state.
The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said the state government remains committed to the health of citizens and is stepping up efforts to ensure that residents of the state are protected from the epidemic.
The commissioner noted that the state recorded no Lassa fever-related death in the last one week, but confirmed nine new cases of the disease.
According to her, “Governor Godwin Obaseki has directed for a more direct intervention in the local government areas that are worst hit by Lassa fever to stop the transmission and reduce the incidence of disease and death from the disease.”
Speaking on the ongoing free medical outreach in the state, Prof Akoria said with the partnership between the state government and the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), over 65 medical professionals from the Diaspora are in Edo working with local medical experts and other volunteers to provide free medical and surgical services to Edo people.
She said, “We have established a hybrid medical mission where patients sit at Oredo Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) and are reviewed by clinicians from the United States of America. It will continue to help us bridge the human resource gap and specialist care for specific people who are currently underserved.
“Surgeries are ongoing at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo Specialist Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital while eye healthcare services are taking place at PHCs at Oredo, Ugbor and Edo State Hospital Board Management premises.”
