Nigerian Minister of health, Professor Isaac Adeboye, yesterday, told journalists in Abuja that Government is planning to set up 10,000 health centres across Nigeria in order to tackle Lassa fever epidemic spreading across the country. 5,000 Primary health centres would be activated before the end of 2016.
Mr. Adewole listed 17 states that are currently affected Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara and Kogi as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “We have special facilities around us and we have adequate human resource to address the challenge”.
The minister announced that six most affected states will have Lassa fever diagnostic centres. The states are Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Ondo states. This is in addition to the six existing Lassa fever treatment centres.
The existing centres for Lassa fever Treatment are: Irrua, Edo; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Others are Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University College Hospital Ibadan, and the National Centre for Disease Control, Asokoro, Abuja.