World Bank, WHO to fight Lassa fever
From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin)
THE Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has begun to put in place measures to avert the possible spread of the measles' outbreak recorded in Cameroun to Nigeria.
Also, the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO) may have volunteered to assist Nigeria in its fight against the deadly but relatively unknown Lassa fever, which is said to affect up to three million Nigerians yearly.
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Executive Director, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, has also said that the eradication of polio, which has crippled hundreds of Nigerian children, can only be achieved through genuine commitment by all and not through setting of deadlines by government.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) last week reported an outbreak of measles at Langui refugee camp, which shelters Chadian refugees. The camp is located in the North province of Cameroun, which borders Adamawa and Taraba states.
It has been shown that measles, like meningitis, is associated with very hot temperature, which is prevalent in March. It is also estimated that no fewer than 24,000 cases of measles were recorded in northern Nigeria between January and March last year. The symptoms of measles include coughing, a runny nose, fever and a red rash. It can also trigger pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, yesterday told The Guardian: "We are concerned about the possibility of the outbreak spreading to Nigeria and have therefore begun to provide leadership for the ministry in ensuring that all mechanisms to avert any spread of the disease to the country are put in place.
"The FMOH and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) are well placed to respond to this. There is presently a stockpile of 11 million doses of measles vaccines, out of which seven million doses are available for supplemental immunisation campaigns and the rest are readily available for the use of health facilities across the country for routine immunisation.
"We recently constituted and inaugurated an Expanded National Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR) Committee which is multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary, involving the Ministry of Information and the media and also involves adequate representation of states vide the Commissioners for Health from eight states and FCT. The committee will monitor and coordinate all epidemic responses to epidemic-prone diseases including measles."
Osotimehin said the FMOH had immediately begun a massive campaign to create awareness and give appropriate information to prevent any outbreak, through the mass media (electronic and print) and other traditional forms of passing information across to the Nigerian populace.
He said the ministry wanted the general public and parents in particular, to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles. The minister urged Nigerians to report immediately at the nearest health centre if they noticed any of these common signs and symptoms; which are high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and Koplik spots (small white spots on the buccal mucosa).
