By Oye Chukwujekwu
Delta State government has donated personal protective equipment to the management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, as part of its collaborative efforts to address the spread of Lassa fever.
The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, made the denotations on behalf of the state government at the office of the Chief Medical Director, FMC, Asaba.
He said that the equipment would enable the medical personnel in the hospital to effectively fight the disease, which re-emerged last week in the state.
The commissioner disclosed that two confirmed cases of Lassa fever disease had been recorded in the state which were brought to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba for medical attention.
According to the commissioner, the first case brought to the FMC, Asaba, was that of a 43-year-old male resident in the state, who was successfully treated and later referred to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, and is responding to treatment.
He said that the family members of the man and the ambulance driver who conveyed him to the hospital were being closely watched while other contact tracings were on-going.
Azinge assured Deltans that the relevant authorities were on top of the situation and added that there was no need for residents to panic since the state was able to effectively handle the disease the last time it emerged.
He said all the Primary Health Care centres in the state had been activated, sensitization activities geared up and advised residents to report any case of malaria and typhoid fever that are not responding to treatment to the nearest medical facility as early report of cases will save lives.
The commissioner said that he was in contact with his counterpart in the Anambra State – the Commissioner for Health – as regards the second case which was brought in from Anambra. He added that the corpse would be handed over to his colleague so that proper burial arrangement is carried out so as not to expose more persons to the disease.
Receiving the donated items on behalf of the hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Mwedical Centre, Asaba, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, expressed gratitude to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the gesture and assured of the effective use of the items which included 250 pieces of disposable coat/suit, 500 pieces Elbow Length Gloves, 50 packets of surgical hand Gloves, 50 sets Protective boots, among others.
Explaining the second recorded case of the disease, Osiatuma revealed that it was that of an adult female who was brought in from Anambra State on Sunday but unfortunately passed on the following day, Monday.
