ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA) has concluded training for Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and Health Educators as proactive measure to curb further spread of the Lassa fever virus following the deaths of three persons and seven confirmed cases in the state.
Addressing participants at the training, the Chairman of the Agency, Dr Isioma Okobah, said that the training became necessary to build the diseases surveillance and health educators capacity in handling and tracking the virus.
Dr Okobah emphasized that the officers were the eyes of the Agency at the grassroots, enjoining them to adopt the door to door mobilization in sensitization and creating awareness on preventive and precautionary measures on the disease.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Agency, Dr Jude Winful Orieke, charged the participants to redouble their efforts mostly in accurate and prompt reportage of suspected cases of Lassa fever, adding that immediate report of the virus would help prevent fatality and curb the spread.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Ejiro Ogheneaga, while delivering a lecture, titled ” Overview on Lassa Fever” said that the eradication of the virus depended on the participants, hinting that about 80% of people infected with Lassa fever never develop symptoms due to their immunity level adding that early treatment with Ribavirin, an anti-retroviral drug, could cure infected persons.
The State Health Educator, Mrs Ijeoma Popo, advised the participants to leverage on the period of the measles campaign to advocate for personal hygiene.
