Senate Urges Federal Government To Increase Awareness Of Lassa Fever

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki today
commended the sponsors of motion on the Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria.

Speaking on the floor after the motion sponsored by the
members of the Senate Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Senator Gbenga
Tejuosho (Ogun Central), the Senate President stated that it was pertinent for
the Federal Ministry of Health to come up with a sustainable strategy to curb
the ongoing outbreak as well as work to ensure that such outbreaks of
preventable diseases do not occur again down the line.

The Senate President tasked the Senate Committee on Health
to follow up on the contents of the Senate Resolution by doing their due
diligence on their oversight functions with the Federal Ministry of Health, and
the Minister of Health.

Saraki, in his comments further stated that the relevant
agencies of the Federal Government should intensify the general awareness of
the Lassa Fever disease, as well as deploy health workers to areas affected by
the disease so as to make available adequate health care.

“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) should
coordinate all responses to ensure compliance,” Saraki said, “Every
Nigerian should also continue our collective social health education, and
communication activities to prevent the disease from spreading further.”

The Senate also moved to observe a one minute silence for
the Nigerians killed since the Lassa Fever Outbreak began, and condoled with
the families of all those that had lost relatives to the disease.

Other sponsors of the Senate resolution included Senators
Matthew Urhogide, T.A. Orji, Jonah Jang, Suleiman Nazif, and Senator Andy Uba.

Signed,

Bamikole Omishore

Special Assistant on New Media To president of the Senate