NOA sensitises community stakeholders on infectious seasonal diseases in Oyo

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged critical community stakeholders in Oyo State to intensify the ongoing sensitisation campaigns aimed at curbing the escalation of infectious seasonal diseases plaguing some states among the citizens.

The agency, in collaboration with the state government, religious and market leaders, among other sensitive organisations, said it had become imperative for every Nigerian to be appropriately informed about some deadly diseases that are associated with seasonal challenges, especially during the rainy and dry periods.

Director-General (DG) of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a town hall meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the exercise was to enlighten the people to prevent the diseases from infiltrating Oyo State.

Issa-Onilu, therefore, tasked the people on attitudinal change to tame the spread of the dreaded dry season diseases, such as Lassa fever, meningitis and Cholera from affecting or spreading in Oyo State.

The NOA DG, represented by the National Director of Health and Social Care, Dr Olufemi Ayoola, noted that Lassa fever is preventable even though vaccines had not been discovered. He said that people should take personal responsibility for their daily lives.

He said that eating a complete diet, fruits and exercising regularly could prevent the spread of the diseases, just as he added that sleeping appropriately, taking enough water and not getting involved in self-medication or treatment whenever one feels seek are important.

Besides, he said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other stakeholders, are making efforts to launch a vaccine against Lassa fever.

However, the State Director of the NOA, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, said the agency had embarked on many sensitisation programmes on meningitis, cholera and measles.