Ensuring and combating the emergence of the Lassa fever surge in the state has led the Ondo State Government to upgrade and equip the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) centre.
In collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN), the completed laboratory facility will assist the testing centre located at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo.
The handover ceremony was held on Thursday at the Public Health Laboratory Centre, Reference Hospital, Igbatoro Road, Akure.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, confirmed over 400 suspected Lassa fever cases were recorded along with 100 cases since the recent outbreak in the state.
During inspection at the health facility, Ikuomola emphasised the importance of upgrading and equipping the laboratory centre to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
He believes this development will bring the infectious disease under control, especially in managing and detecting any cases.
He further appreciated the collaborative effort of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, CREST 106.1FM, AKURE, and other key partners in the development of health personnel by engaging them in training exercise.
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Ikuomola added, “We have 400 suspected cases and confirmed 100. I would have loved to give you a specific number of deaths. We have recorded some deaths. These efforts are towards reducing fatality. For now we have only Federal Medical Centre, Owo, to conduct testing.
Dr. Dele Sunday, the State Coordinator for the World Health Organisation (WHO), expressed delight in the development and noted the state will witness a drastic reduction in fatality and prevent further spread across the community.
“The lab here will help to identify cases of Lassa fever on time,” Sunday added.
On behalf of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Yetunde Abioye, gave the assurance of the facility’s continuity with the aim of identifying infectious diseases, focusing on the current disease surge.
Mr. Saiki Musa, the epidemiologist and Surveilance Manager, IHVN, explained the need for the support was based on curtailing the spread and improving the efforts in FMC, Owo.
