David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
These days, the fear of Lassa fever is the beginning of wisdom in many homes and health institutions across the country. And to continue the fight against the deadly disease, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, recently held an awareness and sensitisation workshop for staffers of the health institution and Nnewi residents on the causes and prevention of the disease.
Since the scourge resurfaced, Lassa fever has claimed no fewer than 77 people in various parts of Nigeria.
To bring the situation under check, the NAUTH management has set up what it called the Lassa Fever Committee, which has begun an intensive awareness campaign that is hinged on suspected cases, probable and confirmed cases, as well as low and high-risk contacts.
Even though the hospital has not recorded any positive case since the new outbreak of the disease, chief medical director (CMD) of NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, during the awareness programme, said it was necessary to have an overview of the Lassa fever epidemic to have more information on preventive measures.
According to Igwegbe, the need for the sensitisation workshop for health workers of the institution became imperative, as health service providers were more at risk of getting infected with the killer disease. Participants at the workshop were made to understand the definition of “contact” as any person without any signs and symptoms but who has had physical contact with an infected person, dead or alive, or the body fluids or tissues of an infected person within the last three weeks.
From the information released to the health workers and members of the public, high-risk contact of the disease entails penetration of the skin by contaminated sharp instruments, like needles and blades, or contamination of the mucous membrane, broken skin with blood or bodily secretion.
To this end, Igwegbe told the medical personnel of the institution to imbibe the habit of making effective use of the personal prevention equipment provided by the hospital and not abandon the patients. Any health worker that does otherwise, he noted, would not be upholding the tenets of the medical profession.
The NAUTH boss explained the need for people to adequately cover their grains and foodstuff in general to prevent Lassa fever-carrying rats from gaining access to their food. He particularly urged the participants to make good use of the information and knowledge garnered during the workshop, noting that the whole exercise would be useless if not were put into practice.
As part of the hospital management’s efforts towards preparation to battle Lassa fever, if it ever occurs in Nnewi and its environs, the CMD said the hospital had procured over 100 non-contact infrared thermometers and other kits. He also said that arrangements had been concluded to send some staffers to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, for further training on Lassa fever.
Some of the health workers at NAUTH who lectured the staff on Lassa fever and preventive measures were the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Joseph Ugbaja, Prof. Oby Emelumba, Dr. Achunam Nwabueze and Dr. Chioma Ajator.
Ajator, in her lecture, said Lassa fever was an acute viral illness caused by the Lassa virus transmitted by rats. The symptoms, she said, include fever, sore throat, vomiting, nausea, body pains and redness of the eyes. She said the disease could be treated but not with over-the-counter drugs because of the side effects. She advised that any person that has fever greater than 38 degrees centigrade for more than one week should visit the nearest hospital for further investigation.
She called for routine universal precautions, safe disposal of waste and burial of dead bodies identified to have Lassa fever, adding that prevention of rodents from human contacts was imperative.