Senate condemns spread of Lassa fever to 14 States

The Senate yesterday condemned the spread of Lassa fever to 14 states in the country, requesting that a special provision be made in the 2018 budget for prevention and treatment of the disease.

The resolution followed a point of order by Senator Clifford A. Ordia (PDP, Edo) on the urgent need to support the Centre for Research, Control and Treatment of Lassa Fever disease in Nigeria.

Moving the motion, Ordia listed the affected states as Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Imo, Kogi, Bauchi, Anambra, Benue, Abia, Ekiti and Delta States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said from January 5 when the first case was reported, a total of 363 suspected cases of the diseases have been reported.

“Of the 363 cases, 81 persons tested positive, 44 persons admitted at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Teaching Hospital, while 11 deaths of which 3 are health workers have so far been recorded in the Lassa Fever Ward of the Centre,” he said.

To this effect, the Senate mandated its committee on health to investigate steps taken by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the disease.

It urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to urgently provide the Centre with necessary equipment to enable it meet its responsibilities to Nigerians seeking medical care.