NOA, FMOH, NCDC, Others Mobilise Nigerians Against Lassa Fever Outbreak

*Red Cross: 108 Mpox cases recorded in 27 states

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other stakeholders, have launched a nationwide preventive campaign on the outbreak of Lassa fever.
Relatedly, Director of Health and Care at the Nigerian Red Cross, Dr. Mannir Jega, disclosed that 108 Mpox cases had been confirmed in 27 states across the country.  Jega revealed this on Wednesday in Kaduna at the training of health workers from 15 states. He said Bayelsa State had the highest number of Mpox cases in the country, while the North-central region had the highest cases in the northern part of the country.
Flagging off the campaign in Bauchi on Wednesday with a press briefing at the Federal Secretariat, Director-General of NOA, Lanre Isa-Onilu, declared, “Our objective is to educate Nigerians on the risks, prevention, and control measures to combat Lassa fever.”
Isa-Onilu, who was represented by the Bauchi State Director of NOA, Mrs. Theresa Omaga, explained, “This press conference is a critical step in our efforts to mobilise Nigerians to take proactive measures against this deadly disease, especially that we are now in the dry season, a period of heightened vulnerability to the spread of Lassa fever.”
He stated, “As you may be aware, Lassa fever has claimed precious lives in some parts of the country. This outbreak underscores the importance of collective action in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. We mourn the loss of lives and express solidarity with the affected families.”
Isa-Onilu added, “We urge all Nigerians to take note of the following: Lassa fever is preventable, maintain good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing with soap and water, store food in rodent-proof containers, avoid contact with infected persons or contaminated materials and report suspected cases to the nearest health facility promptly.”
He also stated, “As the agency of government responsible for value reorientation and attitudinal change with robust network, platforms and structures, we shall be doing the following: deploy our network of state and local government offices to disseminate information and utilise various media channels to amplify prevention messages.”
The agency will also engage community leaders, traditional rulers, and influencers to mobilise grassroots support, and collaborate with schools to integrate Lassa fever and other infectious diseases prevention into their teaching engagements, he said.
The director-general said called on Nigerians to “take personal responsibility for preventing Lassa fever, support public health initiatives and report any suspicious cases”.
Isa-Onilu added, “We appreciate the support of the NCDC and other stakeholders within the One Health sector for their partnership and collaboration. Together, with little actions, we can change the narrative for good for the betterment of our country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
According to him, “The fight against Lassa fever requires a collective effort. We must work together to prevent further spread and protect our citizens. I urge you, members of the press, to join us in amplifying these critical messages.”
Jega said preparedness plans were being developed aimed at reducing transmission of the disease as well as protecting vulnerable populations in low-burden states.
According to him, the Nigerian Red Cross, in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, and their partners at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, had activated a robust response plan.
He explained, “Mpox is a critical public health issue affecting our nation and the world.
“The Mpox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa CDC. Unfortunately, Nigeria is among the affected countries.
“The latest figures from NCDC revealed 108 confirmed Mpox cases out of 1,395 suspected cases this year, spanning 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“While we are fortunate that no fatalities have been recorded thus far, we must act decisively to prevent further spread and mitigate its impact.”
According to him, a similar training on combating the outbreak of the disease has been conducted in 17 states.
He said the current training programme included participants from Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Edo, and among other states.

“We trained them with the necessary skills and knowledge on how to respond effectively to the outbreak,” Jega added.