Reps task FG on sustainable plans to eradication of Lassa Fever

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to roll out a sustainable plan towards eradicating Lassa Fever in Nigeria.

Following the passage and adoption of the motion on the need to investigate the resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria, as sponsored by Sergius Ogun (Edo-PDP), the House mandated its Committees on Health Institutions and Healthcare Services to look into the implementation of Federal Government’s response to Lassa Fever outbreaks.

The joint Committee is also expected to interface with Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health ‎over the recent resurgence of Lassa Fever in some parts of the country.

In his lead debate, Ogun who stressed the need for government to fulfill its constitutional responsibility of providing healthcare service for the citizens,  argued that disease and ill-health pose danger to the safety and security of the populace.

He expressed concern that in recent times one of the virulent forms of fever plaguing the nation was lassa fever which was very similar to the Ebola fever with similar symptoms with a much lower casualty rate.

“The first case of lassa fever reported in Nigeria was in 2015 and between August 2015 and May 2016, 273 cases including 149 deaths were recorded by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“A report published on Monday, January 16, 2017 by the Technical Assistant of Communication of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, urging Nigerians to be at alert, since Lassa fever is on the rise again with 19 cases  and 5 deaths reported between 2016 and 2017 in seven states.”

While ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the joint committee to meet with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on the matter and report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.