By Adi Angyu
In efforts to address the difficulties faced in diagnosing Lassa fever, the Bauchi state government has completed plans to set up a diagnoses centre in the state.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Halima Mukaddas revealed this in Bauchi while inspecting the Lassa fever Management Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.
While confirming that six people have died of the disease in the state, Dr. Halima said the state government has procured post exposure equipment to protect staff against contracting the disease, as well as procuring medication to assist in management of patients.
“We have put in place various preventive measures such as sensitizing various communities to create awareness on how to prevent Lassa fever. Also we have identified an establishment in liaison with the Federal government to set up a diagnose centre in the state so that we don’t have to send specimen to other places considering the gravity of the
disease,” she said.
Earlier, Head of the Centre Dr Abdurrahman Tahir said the disease has been a recurrent problem which aided mortality rate.
Therefore, he called on the ministry of health to come up with measures to reduce the dangers faced by staffs that carry the sample for investigation at the designated centres.
