The Borno state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has stimulated a standing emergency response with a call on the health professionals to ensure the full containment of Lassa fever “so that it does not spread beyond one case so far established.”
Zulum also directed that special attention be accorded to government-controlled camps and host communities associated with forced migration of internally displaced persons.
These were contained in a statement issued by the governor’s special adviser on public relations and strategy, Malam Isa Gusau.
It indicated that the governor had called for briefing by the Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura, who gave assurances that the standing emergency response team had already been activated and that there was no cause for alarm.
“The team comprises the health commissioner as chairman with members that include the chief medical director of the hospitals management board, an infection prevention group at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, officials of the world health organisation, the UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
“Also in the response team are key officers in the Ministry of Health, among them the permanent secretary, the executive director of Primary Health care, the incident manager of a public health emergency operations centre, officers-in-charge of disease surveillance and notification and five directors in charge of public health, emergency response, medical services, nursing services as well as planning, research and statistics.”
Zulum assured the commissioner that he would make available whatever was required as part of measures to guarantee the safety of public health across the state.
He called on the team to work round the clock, taking all measures necessary to ensure maximum control of any disease in the state.
