By Isaac Eranga
In response to the increasing number of Lassa fever cases in Edo State, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Edo State Branch with the Edo State Rapid Response Team, penultimate weekend, took Lassa Fever sensitization campaign to Muslim worshipers during Jumaat Service at the Benin Central Mosque located on Upper Igun Street, Benin City.
Speaking, the Branch Chairman, Mr. Festus Alenkhe appreciated the chief Imam for giving the group the opportunity to get their members sensitized. He also expressed thanks to the Branch Health Action Team (HAT) headed by Mrs. Efe- Iyamu.
“Red Cross operates in times of peace and in times of war. In the Southern part of Nigeria for sometime now, we’ve been experiencing peace. The only situation we are facing nowis the spread of Lassa Fever.
“The Edo State Red Cross has directed its partner’s and members to move out to various communities in the State, to educate the people on what best to do to prevent Lassa Fever.
“The campaign is on going in the three Senatorial district of the State, including Mosques and Churches. This is to ensure that Lassa Fever is controlled in the State”, Festus Alenkhe said.
Addressing the Muslim faithfuls, the Branch Secretary Mr. Wilson Ekhomogiazin said the Red Cross and the State Rapid Response Team (RRT) comprising of representatives of Edo State Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation, are committed to ensuring that the spread of Lassa Fever in the State and Nigeria at large is reduced and halted.
The Branch Health Coordinator Mrs. Efe- Iyamu Elizabeth Iyabo said it was important for members of the public to practice good hygiene and environmental sanitation as part of measures to protect themselves and their families.
She said, Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and cases are recorded all year round. “The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in our environment. This contributes largely to the risk of spread that occurs in Nigeria and other countries with similar ecological factors.
“Lassa fever is largely transmitted through contact with items or surfaces contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats. It can also be transmitted from person-to-person through contact with blood, urine, faeces and other body fluids of an infected person. To minimise the risk of infection, members of the public are advised to ensure their environment is always kept clean to avoid contact with rodents.
“Health care workers including Red Cross members and volunteers should maintain a high index of suspicion as Lassa fever can present with fever just like malaria and other illnesses. It is very important that health care workers maintain standard care precautions when managing patients.
“Early symptoms are fever, headache, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, sore throat etc. It is in very severe cases that the patient bleeds from body openings. If a patient does not respond to treatment for malaria or other febrile illnesses after 48 hours, it is important to test immediately for Lassa Fever”, Mrs. Efe-Iyamu said.
On his part, the Chief Imam of the Benin Central Mosque- Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabulele thanked the Edo State Red Cross and the State Ministry of Health for coming to sensitize the faithfuls on the causes and prevention of Lassa Fever.
“The rate of Lassa Fever infection in the country in general and Edo State in particular, is alarming and in tackling this, concerted effort must be made to avert the trend. It is possible to reverse”, the Chief Imam said.
