To ensure that Cross River State public was aware of the dangers of Lassa fever, the state Ministry of Health yesterday took its sensitisation awareness campaign to border communities with the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health posts in the areas.
Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Inyang Asibong, who led the ministry’s team to Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said the move became necessary as the two previous cases of Lassa fever in the state were detected in migrants coming into the state.
“We are here at the Ikang border in Bakassi LGA, which borders Cameroon to sensitise the border community as we have a lot of people coming in and out for leisure and trade purposes, and we’re also aware of the Lassa fever outbreak which started in Eboyi and ravaging the country,” Asibong said.
“We are here to talk to the people about prevention, which is key and also sensitise them on the need to practice good environmental and personal hygiene and hand washing as these is some of the best ways of staying safe.
This would be replicated across all the borders in the state as we are leaving no stone unturned in our drive to strengthen our borders against disease migration.”
On the issue of Personal Protective Equipment, Asibong noted during the demonstration that the equipment, which include disposable gowns, hand gloves, nose masks, shoe covers and head gear, among others, can also be used for other forms of medical emergencies aside Lassa fever.
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