Lassa Fever: Decentralize Reference Hospital for Treatment- Ondo Assembly Tells Government
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has asked the state government to decentralise the Lassa Fever Reference Hospital in Akure so that people of the state across the 18 local government areas could have access to treatment of the disease.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, made read the resolution of the house at the plenary on Thursday during a matter of urgent public importance.
The lawmakers said that there was need for all and sundry to come together and address the scourge of the deadly disease across the state.
The house noted that the government must upgrade the reference hospital by equipping the facility with modern medicals.
“ The state government should upgrade the Reference Hospital ar Igbatoro, Akure and the hospital should be decentralized so that other people in the state will have access to treatment of the disease”,the house emphasised.
The lawmakers further enjoined health workers to observe personal hygiene and ensure infection prevention and precautions.
According to them, the state Ministry of Health should create an aggressive awareness for people to know the gains of prevention rather than cure.
The Speaker equally tasked the other lawmakers to partner with the state government in ensuring adequate and constant publicity on the disease.
Earlier, Hon Dr. Chris Ogunlana, Irele Constituency appreciated the lawmakers for raising the matter in the plenary which he described as a saving-life deliberation.
Ogunlana said that “the most basic thing is for us to keep our environment clean and block all routes that rodents can come into our residence and contaminate our food.”
Similarly, Hon Oluwarotimi Abitogun, Akure South 2 regretted that many constituents across the state had fallen victims of the disease, hence the need for all hands to be on deck in nipping it on bud.
Abitogun decried the act of self medication which he said had contributed to multiplicity of number of Lassa fever cases in the state.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly through the Speaker acknowledged the receipt of four commissioner-nominees in addition to the already 12 screened nominees by the legislative body.
Oladiji directed the four nominees to appear before the House of Assembly on Friday, June 27 with valid certificates and updated copies of curriculum vitae for proper documentation and vetting.
He noted that the process is line with the Section 192( 1 and 3) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended).
In another development, the Speaker constituted all standing committees for smooth and effective legislative duties.
Also, a Bill for a Law to Establish Ondo State Coastal Management Agency scaled through First Reading at the plenary.
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