FG Inaugurates Lassa Fever Eradication Committee
In an effort to eliminate Lassa Fever Epidemic in Nigeria, the Federal Government has inaugurated Multi-sectorial Committee on Lassa Fever Eradication with a view to provide measures that would lead to final eradication of the epidemic in the Country.The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in Abuja during Emergency National Council of Health on the Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria.
The Minister also announced designation of six additional diagnostic Centres for Lassa Fever which now bring to total of 12 diagnostic Centres in the Country.
The first six centres were University Teaching Hospital Maiduguri, Borno State; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State; Irua Specialist Hospital, Edo State; University Teaching Hospital Ibadan Oyo State; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos; and the Nigeria Council for Diseases Control (NCDC0 laboratory FCT.
While the additional six diagnostic centres according to the Hon. Minister are to be situated at the highly infected states of Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa and Ondo.
Inaugurating the Committee, the Minister said that “The Federal Government of Nigeria was convinced that not only is it possible to contain, stop and provide adequate care to all people infected with current outbreak of Lassa Fever, it is also possible to eradicate the disease from Nigeria.”
Prof. Adewole said that the 19 man Committee, chaired by Prof. Oyewale Tomori, President Nigeria Academy of Science has experienced professionals capable of delivering the desired result.
The Terms of Reference of the Committee included, to appraise the current epidemiological situation of the past and current Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria, Developing jointly with Federal Ministry of Health and Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) an effective response plan for fighting and
preventing the spread of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, avail professional advise to NCDC and FMOH to arrest current and future Lassa Fever outbreak.
Others were galvanizing financial support and good will from other stakeholders and development partners, to implement the Strategic Plan under the guidance of the Honourable Minister of Health and to advise the Hon Minister of Health on the Emergency operation and activities and activities carried out in the infected states.
In his response the Chairman of the committee Prof. Oyewale Tomori, assured the Hon Minister that they would do all that is possible to ensure that they eradicate Lassa Fever in the Country.
He said Nigeria had dealt with Ebola so he was very optimistic that with the calibre of people in the Committee they would work hard to see the end of Lassa Fever in Nigeria.
The committee would be under the chairmanship of Prof. Oyewale Tomori of the Redeemers University, and Prof. A. Nasidi as Secretary.
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