At least 22 persons have died from Lassa fever outbreak in Bauchi state state in 2023, health officials in the north eastern state have disclosed.
The chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Rilwanu Mohammed, made the disclosure on Thursday.
He spoke at a one-day advocacy engagement meeting with traditional and religious leaders on preventing infectious diseases on Thursday in Bauchi.
The chairman, represented by Haruna Wakil, Deputy Director, Disease Control and Immunisation of the agency, said the state also recorded 678 suspected Lassa fever cases, 95 confirmed cases, and 22 deaths.
He added, “the worst hit local government areas are Alkaleri, Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Ganjuwa, Dass, Kirfi, Toro, and parts of Kanam in plateau.”
Mohammed stressed the need for proactive measures in the fight against infectious diseases, adding that the traditional rulers and community leaders have significant roles to play in achieving the set objectives.
He further stressed the need to constantly pause and reflect on the present situation of things in communities to achieve the set objectives of a healthy society.
The BASPHCDA boss assured of the agency’s readiness to collaborate with relevant organisations and NGOs to promote primary healthcare services in communities.
Haruna Suleiman, Head of Inspection, Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), said the meeting was to achieve a healthy society.
Suleiman said the importance of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) cannot be overemphasised “because it is the basis of living due to the fact that life itself revolves around cleanliness.”
He, however, lamented that people had since abandoned the COVID-19 protocol of social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a face mask, a development that increased the spread of infectious diseases.