Benin City – The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), has urged members of the public to practice good community hygiene as part of preventive measures against monkeypox, measles, Lassa fever, coronavirus and other communicable diseases.

Addressing stakeholders during a sensitization rally at Uselu Market, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Executive Secretary, EDSPHCDA, Dr. Eloghosa Obarisiagbon, said the agency will continue to drive public enlightenment to educate members of the public on the need to observe safety measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus and other communicable diseases in the state.

She urged healthcare providers in primary healthcare centres to be more careful and avoid direct contact with blood and other body fluids while caring for sick persons, to avoid being infected with Lassa fever and other communicable diseases.

The Health Educator for Egor LGA, Mr. Eghosa Omoregie said Lassa fever which is from the Lassa virus is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

According to him, the prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good community hygiene to discourage rodents from entering homes.

He added that storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers and disposing of garbage far from the home could reduce the risk of contracting Lassa fever.