The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has directed healthcare professionals to implement infection prevention and control (IPC) measures diligently to curb the spread of Lassa fever across the country.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director General of the NCDC, emphasized the crucial role of these measures during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Adetifa stressed the need for healthcare workers to be vigilant, stating, “All healthcare workers should stay alert for Lassa Fever in individuals who don’t respond to standard anti-malarial treatment.” He also underscored the importance of maintaining this vigilance for other infectious diseases within a 48-72 hour timeframe.
Providing an update on the situation, Adetifa mentioned, “Reports from the preparedness survey in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been shared to assess readiness.”
The Director General explained that these assessments will contribute to hosting the first Lassa fever webinar in 2024, focusing on empowering communities. He stated, “The responses gathered will facilitate the hosting of the first Lassa fever webinar in 2024, aiming to empower communities in the fight against the disease.”
Highlighting collaborative efforts, the NCDC chief reported, “We had a meeting with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to enhance research during outbreaks and peacetime.” Additionally, he emphasized off-site support initiatives in IPC and safe burials for affected states.
Acknowledging challenges, Adetifa noted, “Poor health-seeking behavior, driven by the high cost of treatment and inadequate sanitary conditions in high-burden communities, is a significant concern.”
He added, “There’s also a lack of awareness in communities, posing additional challenges to effective response measures.”
Source: News Agencies