Oyo Confirms Medical Practitioners Death From Lassa-Fever.

From Ogundele Olanrewaju

Oyo state Government has confirmed the death of three health workers from cases of Lassa – fever’s contraction.

The confirmation was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Bode Ladipo, during an interaction with journalists in his office at Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Ladipo while recalling intensified efforts since the case was detected on 4th January, 2022, stated that the medical practitioners numbering about four were admitted into a private health facility earlier this week but that casualties of three occured afterwards.

He stated that “The Ministry of health wishes to address the cases of death of health workers in the state from Lassa fever, Four health workers from a private health facility were admitted into the treatment centre in the early days of the week, upon diagnostic investigations all four (4) were confirmed positive for Lassa fever. Unfortunately, three (3) of them consisting of two (2) doctors and another hospital staff died despite all efforts at caring for them by experts”.

The Oyo Commissioner however requested prompt medical attention on anybody detected with symptoms of Lassa fever including fever, sore throat, vommiting, generalized body weakness and any other chronic health condition.

Dr Ladipo added that “Ministry of health has continue to make efforts at curtailing the spread of the outbreak of Lassa fever since the first case was detected in January, 2022, Nineteen (19) Confirmed cases and four (4) deaths have been recorded so far”.

He further admonished that ” The ministry hereby wishes to implore all health care providers to have a high sense of suspicion for all cases of fever with profound weaknesses as well as bleeding from any or all body and health workers are also enjoined to conform with universal safety precautions in the line of their duties”.

Ladipo was also of the view that qualitative health care requires joint responsibility of all for safety – purpose.