Lassa Fever: Minister of Health Tasks States to Strengthen Surveillence Systems

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has called on all the States to strengthen their surveillance systems, report all cases and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health in the successful implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Response Strategy to fighting Lassa fever.He made the call at the National Council of State meeting held in Abuja which he presided over. The National Council on Health is the highest advisory body on health in Nigeria. It comprises the State Commissioners for Health of the 36 States, the Secretary of Health & Human Services Secretariat FCT, with the Honourable Minister of Health as the Chairman of the Council.
The Emergency meeting was convened by the Honourable Minster of Health as a result of the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in some States of the Country since August 2015, which has so far led to the death of 76 Nigerians as at 18th January, 2016.
The meeting broadly aimed to lay the foundation for a Multi-Sectoral Response to the Lassa Fever Outbreak as a matter of urgency.
The specific objectives of the Emergency meeting were presented to Council by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and included the need to facilitate discussion on the control of the on-going Lassa fever outbreak, development of strategies for the prevention and management of outbreaks; operationalisation of integrated management of outbreaks and emergencies at the Federal, State and LGA levels; and inauguration the Lassa fever eradication committee.