Declare state of emergency on Lassa Fever, Doctors urge Nigerian Government

Resident doctors in Nigeria have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on Lassa fever.

The group, under the aegis of Association for Resident Doctors, made the call in Abuja on Saturday as the country is currently battling the scourge of Lassa fever.

It has become a yearly occurrence for Nigeria to lose health care workers to the disease, the doctors said, adding that they had already lost some of their members in this year’s outbreak.

As at January 26, a total of 689 suspected cases with 258 confirmed cases were reported, with 41 deaths.

Five health workers were among the 41 deaths recorded.

As the first responders to Lassa fever patients, health workers are susceptible to getting infected with the disease, the doctors said.

“Due to these reasons, the association has deemed it fit to call on the government to get serious on finding a lasting solution to combating the disease,” they added.

Speaking at the end of the annual conference of its National Executive Council, the president of the association, Aliyu Sokomba, said the decision to declare a national emergency on the disease will boost preparedness of health institutions in the country.

– Premium Times