Lassa fever: FMC Asaba begins sensitization campaign

By Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

Determined to kick out Lassa fever in Asaba and its environ in Delta State, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, has organised a sensitization/enlightenment campaign in Asaba to create awareness on the deadly disease.

The sensitization campaign organised by the FMC awareness Committee on Lassa fever with the theme “kick out Lassa fever “took time out from the hospital through Nnebisi Road to Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba.

Addressing the traders in the market, Ann Ogor Ojimba one of the committee members, charged them to imbibe the habit of cleanliness by always keeping their surroundings clean, avoid eaten rats as well as ensuring that all food items and water are properly covered.

ALSO SEE: Lassa fever: Delta restratigises to check infection

According to her, “Lassa fever is cause by the arena virus”, saying that Lassa fever is found in urine and feces of a specie of rat which contaminates food, water, and human wound with their urine and feces.

She said that infected person spread the disease when their body fluids such as blood, urine, feces, sperm and vomit come in contact with others, and advised the traders to keep rat at bay by setting traps around their houses and surroundings, among others for preventive measure.

In an interview, the Public Relations Officer, Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Mr. Nnamdi Ogbogu, said the sensitization campaign became imperative so as to educate the traders on the danger of Lassa fever, saying that the disease is real and has no cure for now.

Also speaking, Mrs. Anita Elumelu of the Public Relations Department, FMC, Asaba, while emphasizing the important of personal hygiene and clean environment, said that health is wealth and charged the traders to make cleanliness their watch word, just as she commended the management of the FMC for their support to the awareness committee to
carry out their sensitization campaign.