Promoting cleanness, adequate infection control measures to check Lassa fever

Frontline Medical Expert and President/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Omo global Health Services Solution Incorporation United States (U.S.), Dr. Pius Ehi Omoruyi, has harped on the need for government and other relevant stakeholders in the health sector to be proactive as well as enhance Modern Healthcare practice in the fight against Lassa fever.

He urged Nigerians to embrace international best practices as well as proactively engage in basic health awareness programmes geared towards ensuring safer health for all and sundry in the wake of the recent Lassa fever outbreak in the country to curtail diseases outbreak.

Omoruyi, warning on the dangers of the rodents in our environment, particularly rats, and the need to destroy them before they get to our homes, workplaces and schools, Omoruyi said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have in the wake of Lassa fever outbreak confirmed that 35 persons have been linked with the Lassa fever death and 60 others have been placed on surveillance, pointing that, “The goal of a modern healthcare is to shift from disease-focused health care to a healthy and wellness-focused care.”

While identifying ways of prevention, he added that person to person contact with patient undergoing treatment and nosocomial Lassa can be avoided by using preventive precaution call VHF isolation precautions or barrier nursing methods by wearing protective clothing such as mask, gloves, gowns, goggles as well as educating people on Disease vector Control Measures at home, workplace and schools.

“Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures”.

The medical expert also applauded the role of Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole in improving the state-owned Central Hospital with the new ultra modern Hospital complex under construction expected to boost healthcare delivery in the state.

“The new central Hospital Complex in Benin City has been transformed into one of the best Hospitals in Nigeria. When the project is completed this year and equipped with modern innovative technologies and attracts well-known specialists from Nigeria and abroad, the hospital will not only give birth to basic health programmes but will boost Edo state tourism and investments and certainly reduce the quest for medical tourism abroad,” Omoruyi said.

Omoruyi while analyzing the mode of primary transmission of Lassa fever virus from host (Mastomys Rodents) said, “Nigerians should embrace hand washing, covering of food, heating left out food before consumption, avoiding dead animals, keeping environment clean as well as preventing all access of rodents or other vectors into our homes”.

Omoruyi while lamenting the poor healthcare system in the country, urged the government at all levels to mobilize human resources locally and internationally to reposition the health sector, calling for team work with patriotism on the part of stakeholders irrespective of sentiments and political affiliation to address the spread of Lassa fever.

According to him, promoting diseases awareness, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation activities and campaign will enhance public health confidence and promote the goal of modern healthcare in the fight against Lassa fever and other critical and terminal ailment.