The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ebonyi has launched a statewide sensitisation campaign on Lassa Fever prevention, urging residents to stop the eating of rats to checkmate outbreak.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of NOA, represented by Ms Adaugo Ngwu, Programme Officer, Health Social Care performed the launch of the campaign on Tuesday in Amachi Community, Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report, had revealed that Ebonyi was among the states that reported new cases of the disease in week 11 of 2024.
The total number of new cases reported in that week was 35, and the total number of deaths reported from week 1 to 11 was 142 in the state.
The NCDC report explained that Lassa fever is a haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is spread by the multimammate rat.
Also speaking, Mr Theophilus Nwokpor, State Director of NOA in Ebonyi noted that human could be infected from direct contact with the urine and faeces of the rat which contained the virus.
“This is the season when our people consume more rats, so there is need for enlightenment. We want to educate them to stop eating rats at all.
“So, the campaign for the prevention is imperative to checkmate the outbreak. You know, our people eat rats,” Nwokpor said.
Mr Boniface Nwokocha, Traditional Ruler of the Community commended NOA for bringing the campaign programme to the area.
Nwokocha pleadged support to the comapaign and called on the people to desist from eating rats.
The Resource Person, Mr Uchenna Unah, urged the residents to avoid contact to infectious persons and embrace personnel and environmental hygiene.
Mr Sunday Ogbaga, Management Committee on Works, Amachi Development Centre called for rigorous campaign to tackle the spread of the disease not only in the area but the state at large.
Helen Nwibo, a Participant said she would make good use of the teaching, especially at the grassroots level. (NAN)
