…As LASUTH resident doctors begin warning strike Jan 28***
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) says
Nigerians need not panic over the rising cases of Lassa fever because it has
initiated measures in response to the disease in the country.
The advice was expressed in a statement on Wednesday by the
Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu in Abuja.
Ihekweazu said that in preparation for this year’s emergency
phase, NCDC had been providing support to states, including emergency supplies
and deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRT).
He said that the RRTs would work with states in response
coordination, contact tracing, case management, risk communication and
strengthening infection prevention and control practices.
“Recent epidemiological data shows that Lassa fever usually
occurs during the dry season, between January and April.’’
According to him, as at Jan. 13, about 60 confirmed cases
were reported in eight states.
”Given this increase in reported cases of Lassa fever, the
NCDC has declared this an outbreak and activated an Emergency Operations Centre
(EOC) to coordinate the response,” he said.
He said that given the increase in reported cases, the NCDC
declared it as an outbreak and activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
to coordinate the response.
Ihekweazu, therefore, advised members of the public to focus
on prevention by practising good personal hygiene and proper environmental
sanitation.
”Take effective measures by storing grain and other
foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home,
maintaining clean households, and other measures to discourage rodents from
entering homes.
”Hand washing should be practised frequently. The public is
also advised to avoid bush burning.
”Health care workers are again reminded that Lassa fever
presents initially like any other disease-causing febrile illness such as
malaria.
”Healthcare providers are advised to practise standard
precautions at all times, and to maintain a high index of suspicion.”
Ihekweazu advised that Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) must be
applied to all suspected cases of malaria.
”When the RDT is negative, other causes of febrile illness
including Lassa fever should be considered. Accurate diagnosis and prompt
treatment increases the chances of survival.
”The national guidelines for Infection Prevention and
Control, as well as Lassa fever case management have been developed,
disseminated to states and are available on the NCDC website for download,’’ he
said.
Ihekweazu reinstated Federal Government’s commitment to
supporting all States’ public health teams to prevent and respond to public
health threats.
In the meantime, resident doctors at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja will begin three days warning
strike on January 28, the President, Association Doctors (ARD-LASUTH) president
Dr. Fatai Balogun said yesterday.
The strike, is over shortage of house officers and resident
doctors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
association last September went on an indefinite strike to demand the
replacement of house officers and resident doctors that left.
Balogun said the strike was suspended following the
management’s promise to replace them.
“This crisis has been recurring over the years without any
structured policy put in place to ensure seamless replacement of the exited
doctors.
“This, however, creates loopholes in the provision of
optimal clinical service delivery.
“It is made to appear that the only language understood by
them is an avoidable industrial action.
“All we are asking for is seamless employment of resident
doctors and house officers; this should not be a tall order.
“The association is left with no option but to reluctantly
resume the suspended strike with a three-day warning strike, which inevitably
commences at 8am on Monday, January 28,” Balogun said.
He said shortage of doctors had resulted in long waiting
period by patients and inefficient sub-optimal health care service.
The doctors, he said, were being overworked and are falling
ill.
“Until our struggle last September, the government did not
employ doctors.
“The state government, after the struggle, employed only 55
house officers and promised to employ the remaining 25 last December.
“Up till now, they have not been employed,” Balogun said.
LASUTH Chief Medical Director Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo
promised to avert the strike.
He said the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, would
ensure the treatment of the paper work needed in the recruitment of doctors.
“The head of service believes there should be a template for automatic replacement of doctors. He says he will work towards that in order to address the shortage,” Fabamwo said.
The Nation
