By Hassan Ibrahim
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has commenced medical outreach on Lassa fever at the hotspots Local Government Areas of Bauchi State to curtailed the rising cases of the disease.
MSF Head of Mission, Adam Ousmane Ngari, who disclosed this during a farewell ceremony held Thursday in Bauchi said, "We don't know what happens because in the past Bauchi was not part of the epic center of Lassa fever but now Bauchi is now among the top three states with the high cases of Lassa fever in the country.
"Bauchi State is now number two in terms of Lassa fever transmission and with the support from our headquarter and also the support from Ministry of Health we will soon change our approach to go for the way round during the peak we are supporting them to contain the situation," he said.
Ngari further explained, "We have our established Lassa fever treatment center at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching hospital. We have commenced medical outreach activities supporting the Lassa fever hotspots like Kirfi LGA, Nabardo inToro LGA, Bununu in Tafawa Balewa LGA as well as in Bauchi metropolis."
We don't know after the up-peak period what is happening, we don't have clear visibility on it and that is why we are developing a proposal to go for a year -round approach and a year -round intervention to see what is happening with a view of understand the rising cases of Lassa fever in Bauchi. So far so good we are now in the up-peak period and the situation is under control.
Ngari noted that the situation is under control and the MSF team and the State Ministry of Health is collaborating and strengthening plans to curtailed the transmission of Lassa fever across the state, adding, "We already have a State technical working group for Lassa fever and a National technical working group for Lassa fever. In the State working group there are officials from Ministry Health and other Partners and we have discussed how to designed this up-peak period and low season.
He continue, "Every member of the working group contributed it's expertise in the awareness areas or health promotion while the MSF contributed in Case management others contributed in surveillance and how to put all our efforts together to achieve the desire objectives. This is done under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health because the technical team is led by Commissioner of Health. We also embarked on advocacy to put everyone together to contributes its expertise to control this disease."
Commenting on his stay in Bauchi Ngari said, "These projects are like a baby to me from the scratch and where to put the projects. I follow all the circle of the projects growing up to maturity. When you go to MSF Kafin Madaki hospital everything is working and all the services is free-off-charge and people are really happy.
"As a humanitarian worker if you see the faces of people are happy, you will also be happy too. I will go with this sentiment that I have accomplished my mission here in Nigeria and the Ganjuwa community and Bauchi population would take care of these hospitals and to also give our team the needed support for the sustainability of the projects," he added.
0 Comments