The Federal Government on Sunday, started the national campaign to eradicate Lassa fever with the Minister of Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, saying Nigerians should not spare rats and other rodents in their homes.
The minister spoke at the national environmental Response Campaign to Eradicate Lassa fever at Rigasa community in Kaduna.
He said the ministry was preparing some intervention for the prevention of Lassa fever, noting that as one who had worked in the United States as sanitation officer for about three decades ago, he knew the work well.
The minister urged Nigerians not to spare rats and other rodents in their homes because they were the vectors through which the disease could be easily spread.
The minister said, “The physical environment, being the most significant determinant of health undoubtedly plays an important role in disease causation.
“The nature, type and location of our premises influence the survival of disease vectors in both the urban and rural communities in Nigeria. Vector-borne diseases including Lassa fever and other viral zoonotic and infectious diseases depend on a vehicle to survive and be transmitted.
“It is my wish that state governments will cascade this further down in such a manner that we witness rapid reduction of rodent infestation in our homes, offices, schools, hospitality and commercial centres.”
Earlier, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni, said although the state had recorded some cases of Lassa fever, the government had provided about N58m to enable victims to get free medicare.
The ommissioner, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Arma Ya’u, said the state government would also allocate funds to prepare for any eventuality on corona virus.
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