ONDO TO PARTNER GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO FIGHT LASSA FEVER SCOURGE

Ondo State Government is partnering with Georgetown University to tackle the menace of Lassa Fever in the State.

Standing in for the Governor, the Secretary to the Government of Ondo State, Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi while receiving the delegates noted that Ondo State is one of the States with the highest burden of Lassa Fever in the Country and the Government is making tremendous and considerable efforts to address the challenge.

He further stated that a significant public health concern has made his Government with relevant health sectors agencies working tirelessly to curtail the spread of the disease amongst the Citizens of the State.

Speaking on the efforts, the Governor said "the moderate success we have recorded so far is hinged on our commitment to adopting the One Health Approach that is based on strong intersectional collaboration with all relevant Ministries such as Health, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Information, Education, among others. Fortunately, even though the cases are on the increase, all our concerted efforts are beginning to yield results, because for the first time we have been able to record a case fatality rate of below 10"

"Our achievement is largely because our administration has put the issue of Lassa Fever on the front burner to the extent that even the State Executive Council receives regular update on the evolution of the outbreak and deliberates on the way forward from time to time”

Governor Aiyedatiwa appreciated the team for their tremendous support for both technical and financial contributions to the struggle with the deadly virus, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), UNICEF, WHO, Institute for Human Virology (IHVN), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), among others.

The Governor said the State is open to the opportunity to collaborate with Georgetown University and its Associated Subsidiary in Nigeria - the Centre for Global Health Practice and Impact (GU-CGHP).
The Governor assured the full support of his Government and the cooperation of Staff and the warmth of the citizens saying the collaboration would engender further collaboration with their institution for knowledge transfer and capacity building of officers through scholarship program in their home institution.

Speaking earlier, the Head of the team, Dr Winifred Ukponu, in curbing the menace their organization would do advocacy to stakeholders, enlightenment of the citizens using local innovation skill network and community listening from bottom to top.
She emphasized that their team would first pilot their programmes in Owo Local Government Area and Akure South Local Government Area which are the most endemic in the State.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ikuomola appreciated the team and assured them of Government readiness to collaborate with them for a Lassa free Ondo State.