Skip to main content

FMC to develop vaccine against Lassa fever – CMD



The Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo in Ondo State
says it has started a process to develop a vaccine against Lassa fever.
The Medical Director of the medical centre, Mr Liasu Ahmed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Owo during the centre’s annual ward round.
Lassa fever, also known as Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever (LHF), is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms, but when symptoms occur, they typically include fever, weakness, headaches,
vomiting and muscle pains.
The CMD, therefore, said that with the establishment of a treatment centre in the town, the centre had begun the process of developing vaccine for the virus.
The medical director, who took journalists round the wards at the centre, said that the health facility started diagnosing Lassa fever with the use of mobile laboratory.
He stressed the need for Federal Government to address medical tourism and exodus of Nigerian doctors seeking greener pasture outside the country.
He added that “I want to say confidently that the hospital is fulfilling the mandates of service, training and research. In terms of service delivery, the problem of out-of-stock syndrome in the pharmacy has been reduced to the barest minimum.
“A reference laboratory has been set up through Public Private Partnership (PPP). All equipment in the laboratory are automated and results of investigations are released within 30 minutes.
“Furthermore, our services are being improved through the introduction of Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
“It is no longer news that FMC Owo is one of the treatment centres for Lassa fever in the country and the only one that is treating patients with Lassa fever free.
“Last year, we started diagnosing Lassa fever with the use of mobile laboratory donated by an NGO called Pandora in collaboration with Irua Teaching Hospital and the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“In January 2019 during the world conference on Lassa fever in Abuja, FMC Owo received an award of excellence as the most improved treatment centre in the country.”
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that currently, the test and treatment are not available in the state, as Edo was the closest place to conduct such.
Highpoint of the centre’s annual ward round was the presentation of awards to outstanding staff and retirees.

source:NAN


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LIBERIA JEWEL TAYLOR CHALLENGE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT ON GENDER EQUALITY

The vice President of Liberia has challenged the ECOWAS Parliament to push for appropriate implementation of the community protocol on gender and human equality across regional and local governments. Vice President Jewel Taylor made this request while concluding her keynote address presented before the Plenary at the official opening of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament seating in Abuja. Jewel stated that Gender equality is a fundamental human right, yet women are underrepresented in power and decision making roles, women around the region do not fully experience equal rights and their potential as economic, social and sustainable change-agents remains untapped. She said “Excellency, special guest, distinguish members of the ECOWAS Parliament, as I close, permit me to say I will be remiss if I remain silent at this august gathering of regional leaders about the perennial issue of the lack of gender inequality in our local and regional body politics;
Post a Comment
Read more
Abuja Bank Robbery: Police Arrest Alleged Mastermind source: Channels The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested the mastermind of the foiled robbery of a first-generation ba nk in the Mpape area of Abuja last Saturday. The suspect, a barman identified as Ernest was nabbed at his hideout by police detectives and is presently being held at the command headquarters by old CBN building, Garki, Abuja. The police had earlier arrested four suspects and gunned down the fourth member of the robbery gang identified as Patrick during the operation. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, had on Tuesday paraded the gang members including a bank employee, Larry Ehizo, 30, Timothy Joe, 21, Princewill Obinna, 24 and Elijah David, 19. Ehizo who allegedly drove the gang members to the bank claimed he was blackmailed by Ernest to carry out the heist. Narrating how the failed heist was executed, David said Ehizo informed the gang members that the r
Post a Comment
Read more

[JUST IN] Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Thursday, Friday public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Thursday 30th and Friday 31st July 2020 as Public Holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir Celebration, the Islamic festival of sacrifice. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola announced this in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja and signed on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Georgina Ehuriah. The minister while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the occasion. He called on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country especially as the world is witnessing global health challenges caused by Covid-19 pandemic. Aregbesola who “assured that the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to battling the scourge wi
Post a Comment
Read more