Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Manhoud has ordered every environmental health expert at the federal, state and local government levels to embark on awareness campaigns aimed at controlling the spread of Lassa Fever.
Speaking to the media today on the report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, that 195 cases have been confirmed with 29 deaths recorded in 11 states, Mohammad revealed that the experts should also embark on surveillance of premises to identify rodents’ harbourage.
According to him, they have all been charged with the responsibility of destroying rodents in homes, commercial and industrial premises.
He added that our environment has to be kept clean to tackle the current Lassa fever situation.
His words, “This system will strengthen the cooperation between the state and the federal government on environmental health sanitation issues.”
“It will also help in the information or data gathering and sharing between the federal, states and local governments,”
“We must keep the environment clean to escape rodents; keeping food away from rodents; storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodents proof containers and disposing of wastes regularly and far away from homes. ”
“Other measures are cooking all foods thoroughly; blocking rat hideouts,deratization, washing of hands regularly with soap and running water as well as using protective equipment like masks, gloves, gowns among others in healthcare centres and when caring for the sick.”
“This sensitisation will be a continuous exercise and will be taken down to the grassroots such as local communities, mosques, churches, markets, schools, motor parks, restaurants, hotels and to any place where there is the likelihood of large gathering.”