Lassa Fever: Edo Govt Assemble Plans To Tackle Outbreak

The Edo State Government has established plans to combat the spread of Lassa fever and provision of amenities for health centres in the state.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, made this disclosure on Wednesday, after the weekly State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin, the State capital.

Mr. Ohonbamu said that N600 million had been approved by the EXCO as a counterpart funding to enable the state government access N1.4 billion European Union and UNICEF funding for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

He said that the governor had taken proactive steps which include provision of potable water, dialysis machine and essential drugs at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, and increased enlightenment campaigns to prevent the disease from escalating.

According to him, the approval followed the visit of the EU/UNICEF representatives on a courtesy visit to follow up on the WASH programme which had begun in two local government areas of the state.

“The project will cover provision of clean water as well as toilets and other sanitation facilities in rural communities. This is also aimed at reducing open defecation which is a menace in the rural areas,’’ the commissioner said.