Lassa: Nigeria, WHO Ratify Rodent Control Measures
Nigerian Government In partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigerian government has begun developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rodent control to end the outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.
This was information was released at the opening of a three-day Stakeholders’ Review and Validation Workshop for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Rodent Control (Deratization) in Nigeria, held in Abuja.
The main objective of the event, which was organised by the federal ministry of environment through a One-Health approach with support from the WHO Country office, is to promote public health and safety of Nigerians.
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Mr. Charles Ikeah, the director of pollution control and environmental health department, Federal Ministry of Environment, explained that this was necessary as the continued fatality cases of Lassa fever was worrisome. He stated that one of the more successful approaches to reducing the Lassa fever outbreak is through rodent control, which will reduce the contact between rodents and human.
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Mr. Ikeah, who was represented by Alhaji Idi Maleh, the deputy director, sewage and air emission management, said that the current programmes to control rodent in the country were being performed in an unprofessional manner.
While he spoke at the Validation exercise, Dr. Walter Mulombo, the WHO Nigeria country representative, who was also represented by the national consultant, Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh, the public health and environment, said that ever since the first Lassa fever outbreak in 2018, stakeholders have seen the need to synergise to halt the spread.
According to him, it was concerning that Nigeria still battling with preventable diseases such as Lassa fever, saying the meeting was a right step in the right direction. He also said that it is critical for Standard Operating Procedure to be standardised and that activities on rodent control in rivers state should be uniformed as country.
