Benue: 4 health workers die, as suspected cases of Lassa fever risen to 60 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Suspected cases of lassa fever have risen to 60 in Benue State, out of which 11 cases were confirmed, with four health workers died and three other patients still on admission.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche announced this while  interacting with members of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council in his office on Monday.

Ogwuche  further stated that a report from the ministry of health’s dashboard indicated  that there are over 60 suspected cases in the State.

“So far,  11 cases have been confirmed out of which,  4 health workers died and 3 patients were admitted.

“Vigorous efforts through enlightenment and assistance from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control  NCDC are made to curtail the disease”, Dr. Ogwuche stated.

Speaking on the doctors to patients ratios at various public hospitals in the State. Ogwuche said all the 23 general hospitals in the State are manned by qualified medical doctors.

He however lamented that owing to brain drain syndrome which is  affecting the medical sector in every part of the world not only in Nigeria, the ratio of doctor to patient as well as nurses to patient and other cadres, is yet to be attained as the state has not reached the recommende ratio. 

According to him, since the  present administration of governor Hyacinth Alia, lots of positive changes have been recorded especially in terms of manpower development in the State health facilities. 

He maintained that the Teaching Hospital has undergone a lot of transformation accompanied by massive recruitment of workers, while the primary Health care facilities have also witnessed recruitments and is still ongoing.

“Work on the cancer center is ongoing but if you look at the details of how these things work to an ordinary person, it looks as if it is stalled. I have taken a tour of the hospital and seen where they are. The building needs to be customized to the equipment that would be installed. So, it is beyond what you are seeing. 

“These equipment need to be ordered. It will take months to be delivered but I assure you that the project is dear to the Governor. The wife of the President Sen Remi Tinubu is also interested in it. It is at her instance that the cancer center is coming. 

“Having a cancer center close to us will do us a lot of good with what people are passing through with cancer. I assure you that the project is on board. Processing and alot of things are happening underground, he said.

On the issue of meningitis in the State, the commissioner said: “Meningitis is a seasonal issue caused by overcrowding. When people stay in an overcrowded environment without cross ventilation and lock up themselves in such places, it could be a reason for that. We engage in public health enlightenment. 

“We let people know how you can expose yourself to getting meningitis. We have started looking at how to disseminate health information beyond the

Lassa Fever that is here now to the general public. 

“We have sent some people to the communities and churches. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC came from Abuja to support us. They were in churches yesterday to speak to some congregation on what they can do from contacting these contagious diseases”.