Lassa fever: Doctors take sensitisation to markets in Osun

As the Lassa fever scourge ravages some parts of South-west states, members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Osun state chapter, on Monday, took campaigns to markets in Osogbo, the state capital, to enlighten women on its symptoms and how to track the disease.
Leading the team of medical practitioners, the Chairman of NMA, Tokunbo Olajumoke, warned the women and other traders that the outbreak of the disease in Ondo and Osun states was ”a delicate signal for the people of the state.”
He urged all the traders at Akindeko and Olu-Ode markets, which were the places visited by the doctors, to be wary of rats making contacts with raw foodstuff.
A few cases have also been recorded in Osun state with one death recorded so far.
Olajumoke said the sensitisation was aimed at educating the traders on the existence of Lassa fever, the symptoms of the fever and the appropriate steps to take in case such symptoms were noticed.
He said: “We came to the markets to talk to people on Lassa fever which has been ravaging most of the state in Nigeria.
“As we are all aware, the vectors (rats) are very close to the people in the market and when they (rats) touch what they (traders) sell, the buyers who consume the food would be infected.
“It is very paramount to sensitise the traders on this and that’s why we embarked on this awareness tour to major markets in Osogbo and we are talking to the people in the local language and in a manner that they can understand and get the message so that we can prevent Lassa fever rather than waiting to treat people when infected.
“As you are aware, Lassa fever is already ravaging Ondo state which is very close to Osun and there have been reported cases of Lassa fever in Osun. We have recorded a death in Osun as a result of Lassa fever at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Osun here and it was confirmed.”
Property agent jailed 6 months for theft
An Ogun state High Court, Abeokuta, has convicted and sentenced a woman, Folashade Adeleke, to six months in prison without an option of fine on a two-count charge bordering on stealing.
The convict, who was arraigned by the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2016, pleaded not guilty to the two charges against her, but was later found guilty after full trial.
The court convicted and sentenced her accordingly.
Ms. Adeleke’s journey to the prison followed a petition to the EFCC, from a complainant alleging that the convict defrauded her of N6.75 million under the guise that she had a four-bedroom bungalow available for sale in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The petition further alleged that after payment was made to the convict’s bank account, she diverted the money to her own use instead of transmitting the money to the owner of the property.
This resulted in the owner of the property closing business with the petitioner and all efforts made to retrieve the money were unsuccessful.
The judge, O. O. Majekudunmi, convicted the accused and sentenced her without option of fine. (Premium Times)