Lassa Fever: Osun Government Takes Sensitisation To Churches

As Lassa Haemorrhagic Fever continues to ravage some states in the country, the State Government of Osun, on Sunday took campaigns to churches in the three Senatorial districts of the State, to enlighten the church on its symptoms and how to track the disease.

Leading the campaign, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Olasiji Olamiju, said the sensitisation and awareness campaign was put together to increase the knowledge of members of the public on the scourge of the dreadful disease called lassa fever.

He urged all the worshippers at Winners chapel, Christ Apostolic Church, latona, Celestial Church of Christ Ayetoro in Osogbo; United Baptist church in Ede, St Peters Anglican church, edunabon, St Paul Anglican church in Ile-Ife, among others to be wary of rats making contacts with raw foodstuff.

Olamiju expressed the readiness of the state government to combat the disease and ensure the State did not record any outbreak whatsoever.

“The State government is interested in the health of every citizen and that is why the governor has given me the mandate to take this campaign directly to the people. We are talking to them in the local language and in a manner that they can understand so that we can prevent Lassa fever rather than waiting to treat people when infected.”

“We have put in place all the protective measures and we have sensitized all our epidemiological antennas across the State to capture any case from spreading if discovered in any part of the state.”

He called on the people to remain alert, especially reporting of suspected outbreak and symptoms such as high fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and later bleedings from the mouth or other body orifices to the appropriate nearby health facilities.

“It is expedient for people not to allow their food items to be contaminated with rodent urine or faeces”, he added.