By Our Correspondent
Cross River State Government says it has commenced sensitization campaign to educate and inform the public as part of measures to prevent the spread of Lassa fever in the state.
The sensitization campaign will go round to at least 1,500 communities in all the eighteen local government areas of Cross River.
Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Community and Primary Health, Dr Betta Edu disclosed this while speaking with Newsmen on the preventive measures put in place by the government to educate the rural communities.
Dr Edu said aside the enlightenment campaign on the signs, symptoms and mode of transmission of the Virus, the government of Cross River state has also distributed drugs to all the 1,013 community health centers across the state.
The Special Adviser who says Cross River State as a foremost tourism destination in Nigeria and West Africa sub region, the State government under the leadership of Senator Ben Ayade has put all the necessary mechanism in place to prevent the disease.
She urged the members of the public to promote good community and personal hygiene by keeping their environment clean, covering their foods and other consumable items as well as washing their hands regularly with soap and water.
”We have commenced community to community campaign as part of the preventive measures on our part as a government and his excellency the governor is at the driver’s seat in ensuring that Cross River State is Lassa fever-free.
“We are grateful to God that we have not had any case of Lassa fever in Cross River State so far, we are aware of the outbreak in some states in Nigeria, however Cross River state has taken proactive steps to ensure that there is no out break of the disease in the state.
“Part of the approach we have taken as a state is the massive campaign we have rolled out and this will cover at least 1500 communities across the 18 local government areas of the State.
“Also it will interest you to know that the governor has approved the disbursement of Lassa Fever Drugs to all the 1,013 community health centers in the state, so we are prepared and we are on top of the situation.
“The health team in the State led by the Commissioner for Health and other stakeholders in the health sector are working round the clock in ensuring that we carry everybody along in our preventive measures approach especially in the rural communities where my office is directly involved.” she said.