Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Agency Report
Published on 2024-02-27 06:45:32
The federal government has announced plans to implement a national deratisation framework to address the recurring outbreaks of Lassa fever in states that consistently experience annual occurrences. The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja regarding the outbreak of Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) suspected to be Lassa Fever at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
The briefing, themed “Health pillar towards mitigation, prevention, and control of Lassa Fever in Nigeria,” highlighted the urgent need for intervention to tackle the disease-carrying vectors responsible for the spread of Lassa fever, particularly rats. In response to the outbreak, the ministry has established a team to focus on deratisation efforts to reduce the population of rats in affected facilities.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ibrahim Idris, Minister Salako revealed that discussions had been held with the Kaduna State emergency response team. The state epidemiologist reported that out of the 12 suspected cases, six had been confirmed with five fatalities by February 25. Additionally, two suspected cases were linked to another facility, the Barau Dikko Hospital, with 92 individuals currently under surveillance as contact persons.
To combat the outbreak, the ministry has implemented several interventions under the Environmental Health Pillar, including the distribution of rodenticides for deratisation in suspected facilities in Kaduna. They have also activated environmental health personnel to conduct surveillance and identify rat infestations in communities, districts, and wards for necessary treatment and abatement. Moreover, compliance with deratisation exercises has been made mandatory for health and education facilities, hotels, restaurants, markets, and other public places in Kaduna.
Furthermore, the Environmental Health Council (EHCON) and other relevant authorities will issue deratisation certificates or exemptions to facilities post-deratisation. The Registrar of EHCON, Yakubu Baba, expressed concerns about the annual reoccurrence of Lassa fever in Nigeria and pledged to adopt a new strategy to combat the disease and its vectors effectively.
Emphasizing the importance of preventive measures, such as deratisation and community awareness, Minister Salako highlighted the goal of reducing the outbreak within Kaduna to prevent its spread to other states. Certificates of deratisation will be issued to communities found free of rat infestation, with a specific focus on the regions and states prone to annual Lassa fever outbreaks.
In conclusion, the government’s commitment to implementing a national deratisation framework reflects a proactive approach to addressing the public health threat posed by Lassa fever in Nigeria. By prioritizing prevention and control measures, the aim is to curb the spread of the disease and safeguard the health and well-being of the population.
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