The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on Health Monitoring, Dr. Michael Nwoko has stated that the recent outbreak of Lassa Fever in the State is under adequate control.
Dr. Nwoko made this disclosure today during in an interview shortly after a working visit of the Delta State Health Monitoring team to the Emergency Operations Center of the Delta State Ministry of Health to ascertain the status of the State on the Lassa Fever outbreak.
Dr. Nwoko, said that according to authentic and verified reports, only fourteen cases of Lassa Fever and one death have been confirmed in the State. This is contrary to speculations that two corps members infected with the virus had died. The Delta State Incident manager for Lassa fever, Dr. Ann Ojimba and the State Epidemiogist, Dr. Ikwuogu Richard took time to respond to questions asked by the Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Health Monitoring.
The SSA further stated that, the Emergency Operation Committee for Lassa Fever in the State has constituted a surveillance team which currently moves from house to house to monitore people with elevated body temperatures in order to identify suspected case of Lassa Fever for immediate action.
There are also standby ambulances to move individuals with high suspicion index to the Lassa Fever Center of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for immediate isolation and management. The recently commissioned isolation center for hemorrhagic conditions in the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba built by Delta State Government is also being put to use.
In his words, ” what is on ground is an indication that the Ministry of Health through the Emergency Operation Committee for Lassa Fever is up and doing, and I can state without fear of contradiction that the Lassa Fever outbreak in Delta State was under full control and in no time, its spread will be reduced completely to zero level”.
“Before now, we have carried out intense enlightenment campaign to the citizenry and health care workers on the need to adopt certain preventive and control measures to forestall the spread of Lassa Fever in the State” Dr. Nwoko added.
He also stated that, so far, Delta State Government under the able leadership of his Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is doing a lot to ensure that the health indices of the State remains number one in the Country.
In conclusion, the Delta State Health Monitoring team which includes the SSA’s to the Governor, Dr. Michael Nwoko, Dr. Patrick Onwuachi, Dr. Kingsley Amaihunwa as well as their adhoc staff and aides commended the Emergency Operation Committee for their efforts and thanked the State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa for his support to the State Ministry of health in tackling health challenges in the State.