The Commissioner for Health, Dr Bode Ladipo, in a statement he made to journalists in Ibadan, disclosed that the state has recorded 19 confirmed cases, noting that resources have been deployed to designated health facilities to forestall the spread of the disease across the state.

He noted that four health workers were confirmed positive for Lassa Fever, while three out of them, consisting two doctors and another hospital staff, died despite all efforts at caring for them by experts.

Ladipo maintained that surveillance activities have been heightened at the grassroots across the state, adding that access to care has been provided to all individuals at risk of the disease.

The commissioner enjoined individuals having symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, general body weakness, chest pain, back pain, cough, diarrhea, swollen face, eyes or neck, stomach pain or bleeding from ear, eyes, nose, mouth or any other body openings to report promptly to the nearest health facility or call the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on 08095394000 or 08095863000.

He implored all residents of the state to avoid contact with rats, contaminated food items by rat faeces, urine, and other body fluid while maintaining strict personal and environmental hygiene, noting that the virus causing the disease is transmitted from infected rats to humans or an infected human to other humans.

Ladipo charged all health facilities across the state to maintain a high index of suspicion and report all suspected cases to LGAs or state health authorities, adding that the provision of qualitative health care is a joint responsibility of all.

The statement reads in part: “Oyo State Ministry of Health has continued to make frantic efforts at curtailing the spread of the outbreak of Lassa Fever since the first case in January 2022. “Nineteen confirmed cases and four deaths have been recorded so far.

“Surveillance activities have been heightened at the grassroots across the state. Access to care has been provided to all individuals at risk of this disease.

“Resources have also been deployed to designated health facilities to forestall the spread of this disease across the State.

“The public is therefore admonished to remain calm while ensuring adherence to strict preventive measures.

“It is important to note that the virus causing this disease is transmitted from infected rats to humans or an infected human to other humans.

“The Ministry hereby implores all residents of the state to avoid contact with rats, contaminated food items by rat feces, urine, and other body fluid while maintaining strict personal and environmental hygiene. “

“Let me at this juncture note that the provision of qualitative health care is a joint responsibility of all. Together we can curb the spread of Lassa fever in Oyo State.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to desist from patronising unregistered drugs.

This call was made by the Coordinator of the agency in Sokoto State, Mr. Garba Adamu, on Thursday during a street sensitisation campaign

organised in collaboration with the Community Development Service group of the National Youth Service Corps in Sokoto.

Adamu said that the agency would intensify efforts to safeguard the lives of the people by ensuring that products and services complied with stipulated production laws and regulations.

He explained that surveillance, patrol and inspection were routinely conducted by the agency’s officials at all levels.

He appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the agency by ensuring that they patronised only registered drugs and consumables, as well as observed expiry dates at all times.

Adamu further appealed to the people to always report suspected cases of contamination, adulteration and other counterfeits to nearby NAFDAC offices and authorities for prompt attention.

The NAFDAC official decried the prevalence of men’s sexual performance-enhancing drugs, otherwise known as “manpower” in Nigerian markets.

According to him, most of such drugs are not registered with NAFDAC, and some of them are smuggled into the country.

He added that “many men have died using such drugs and their relatives would blame their deaths on some imaginary witches in the village. Some of the producers of these drugs would claim they have no side effects.

“However, the majority of these products do not go through the approval process of the agency, but the agency would not relent in going after the peddlers of such dangerous drugs until they were brought to book.”

He added that the agency adopted a multifaceted approach in fighting the preponderance of banned and falsified drugs and consumables in the country.

He decried the attitude of some people whom he described as “shylocks”, as they follow every means to make a quick money at the expense of the health and lives of consumers.

The Hospital Management Board in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has denied a report trending on social media claiming that it is receiving applications for recruitment into various medical positions, Housemanship or Internship.

The Director-General of the Board, Dr. Mohammed Kawu while addressing Journalists on the post, distanced his agency from the advertisement which he described as a scam.

The DG said the Board did not call for any applications for recruitment, Housemanship or Internship, calling on members of the public to disregard the information.

He said the general public would be duly informed through appropriate channels of the FCT Administration whenever the need arises for the engagement of new personnel.

Dr. Kawu said Parcel interns or any other similar organisations are not known to the board, pointing out that their activities are fraudulent.

The Cardinal John Onaaiyekan Foundation and The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria has called for good parenting as solutions to addressing the increasing rate of Drug abuse among youths in the country.

Panelists across social strata, the religious organisations, security agencies, youth groups and concerned Nigerians met in Ikorodu under the auspices of Cardinal Onaiyekan foundation for peace (COFP), and The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation (MKAN), one day programme on Curbing Drugs Abuse among Nigerian Youths .

The intervention  programme which held in Ikorodu through one of the COFP ambassador, Hajia Toafeqah Fagbolade was an eye opener on the high rate of Drug abuse and the negative consequences on the Nigerian society.

Guest lecturer Barrister Muhammad  Bashirudeen Badru, a lecturer at the Nigerian Police  University ,Kano , speaking on the topic : Drug Addiction and Youth Dereliction ; The Faith based Organisation ,   stressed the need for re orientation of Nigerian Youths, good family upbringing by  parents.

He also decried the influence of music , social media and peer group pressures as some of the factor responsible for increase in drug abuse by youths.

According to Barrister Badru, open display of and drinking of  illicit drugs by musicians and popular artistes are great disservice to the psyche of youths and Nigerians.

He called for the use of local languages to pass information on drug abuse and teaching of drug related issues in the  cm school curriculum are very important.

The representative of the Lagos state government, Dr Rashidat Umar urged parents to detect early signs of drug abuse in their children instead of pursuance of wealth.

Dr Taofeek Sanni , medical  Consultant from federal medical center, Ido Osi explained the effects of misuse of drugs on the society.

Other panelists including the president National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State, Biliamin Oba, Reverend Mother Akerele, Commander of NDLEA in Ikorodu and other stakeholders support the introduction of drug test among students as suggested by the NDLEA boss, General Buba Marwa.