doctors raises alarm: Lassa fever a threat in Kogi State

LOKOJA—Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, in Kogi State, has decried the poor facilities in Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Lokoja and other medical centres in the state, lamenting that it will be a challenge to handling the Lassa fever epidemic in case of any eventuality.

President of the association, Dr Kennedy Obohwemu who spoke yesterday in Lokoja, said the state government must put in place adequate facilities at FMC and other health centres that could possibly handle victims in case of any outbreak. According to him, “Our centre is not sufficiently equipped to deal with a suspected, probable or confirmed case of Lassa fever”. Obohwemu also warned on consequences of the heap of refuge in Lokoja metropolis, which he said was a potential breeding ground for such fever outbreak, noting that “the state of refuge disposal in the state, especially as these unhealthy sites will serve as breading grounds for the vectors (rats). Receptacle should be strategically located for ease refuge and other waste disposal”. He urged government at all levels and other stakeholders to commence advocacy campaign on Lassa fever to rural areas, to sensitize them on how to prevent rats from gaining access to food stores and warehouses. He also commended the Federal Ministry of Health for the prompt intervention in curtailing further spread of the disease, urging it to ensure that specific anti viral drugs were supplied to all states of the federation.