Benue Govt, WHO, UNICEF, Others Partner To tackle Lassa Fever Outbreak

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Benue State Government has  strengthened collaboration with relevant development partners including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to effectively tackle the ongoing outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.

The State commissioner for health and human services, Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche made this know during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting convened by the state ministry  of health held in Makurdi, the State capital,Thursday.

Ejeh Ogwuche expressed appreciation to the various health partners and professionals who have come to render support to the state in addressing the public health concern, and improving the state’s response to the virus outbreak.

He stated that the aim of the meeting was  to deliberate on the rising number of Lassa fever cases following the official declaration of the outbreak on February 3, 2026. 

The Commissioner further commended the partners for their unwavering support and reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to strengthening collaboration in order to address identified gaps and safeguard the health of citizens.

According to him, the ongoing interventions, including the presentation of PPE materials, align with the health sector development agenda and the broader vision of the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, which prioritizes improved healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of the good people of the state.

“Governor  Alia will continue to express strong support for the collaborative response efforts and has called for regular updates on progress being made in containing the outbreak.

“As part of the coordinated response strategy, we visited designated isolation centres and molecular laboratories across the state to assess operational capacity, review ongoing interventions, and identify critical gaps requiring urgent attention.

Representatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention noted that previous assessments had identified key operational gaps in surveillance, case management, and infection prevention and control systems, while recommending strategic interventions to further strengthen the state’s response capacity.

The WHO delegation emphasized the urgency of implementing immediate interventions, particularly to reduce infections among healthcare workers and reinforce protective systems within health facilities across the state.

On its part, UNICEF outlined plans to intensify risk communication and community engagement initiatives aimed at raising public awareness, encouraging early reporting of symptoms, and promoting preventive practices among residents.

Similarly, Médecins Sans Frontières reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the state by identifying both short-term and medium-term challenges that may affect effective outbreak control while providing the necessary technical and operational assistance.

The meeting concluded with renewed assurances from all stakeholders to strengthen coordination, enhance technical support, and implement effective strategies to effectively bring the Lassa fever outbreak under control in Benue State.

During the meeting, the World Health Organization presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) materials to the ministry to support frontline healthcare workers actively involved in managing the outbreak. 

The donation is expected to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, particularly by enhancing the protection of healthcare personnel who remain at the forefront of the response.