Benue Govt confirms 11 cases of Lassa fever, 4 deaths

The Benue Government says the state has recorded 11 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and four deaths.

Dr Paul Ogwuche, the state’s  Commissioner for Health and Human Services, disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi on Monday.

Oguwche said that over 60 suspected cases of the virus have been reported in the state so far.

He said that the government was doing all it could to ensure that the virus did not spread beyond control.

He said the government had declared a virus outbreak in the state on Feb. 3.

“Lassa fever update from our dashboard  shows that we have 68 suspected cases, 11 confirmed, three  on admission. Out of the 11 cases, four died, and four are health workers,” he said

He urged the public to always practice basic hygiene and live in a clean environment.

On the state of the general hospitals in the state, Ogwuche said they were manned by qualified doctors but regretted that the state had yet to attain the recommended patient-to-doctor ratio.

“Since this administration came on board, a lot of positive changes have been made, especially in terms of manpower development in our health facilities.

“The Teaching Hospital has undergone a lot of transformation, accompanied by massive recruitment of workers. Also, in our primary Health care facilities, recruitment has been done and is still ongoing.

“The Cancer Centre is ongoing, but if you look at the details of how these things work to an ordinary person, it looks stalled. I have toured the hospital and seen where they are.

“The building needs to be customised to the equipment that is coming. So it is beyond what you are seeing. This equipment needs to be ordered. It will take months to be delivered, but I assure you that the project is dear to the governor.

“The wife of the President, Sen. Remi Tinubu, is also interested in it. It is at her instance that the cancer center is coming.

“Having a cancer center close to us will do us a lot of good with what people are passing through with cancer,” he said

Oguwche also urged the public to avoid overcrowded and poorly ventilated environments to guard against meningitis.

He said that the government  was  currently carrying out massive public health enlightenment on meningitis and Lassa fever outbreaks in the state.

“We have sent some people to the communities and churches. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) sent a team from Abuja to support us.

“They were in churches yesterday to speak to some congregation on what they can do to avoid contracting these contagious diseases,” he said.

Vanguard News

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