The National Orientation Agency (NOA) led by the Director General, Mallam Lanre Isaa-Onilu took a giant stride today in its continuous public enlightenment program and preventive campaign on the infectious diseases like Lassa Fever, Cholera and Cerebrospinal Meningitis. The aim of the sensitization campaign is to further create awareness on the contagious diseases and also the need to combat the health challenges especially in this dry season that the weather is severely hot.
In his address, the Director General who was ably represented by Dr Olufemi Ayoola, the National Director, Health and Social Care emphasized the need to create public awareness on possible disease outbreaks during the dry season such as Lassa Fever, Cerebrospinal Meningitis and Cholera. He explained that Lassa Fever was recently witnessed in Saki, Oyo State. He also stated that the disease is highly contagious and usually begins with malaria symptoms.
His words,”Lassa Fever is spread by the ‘multimammate rat’ and there is no vaccine yet, so prevention remains the best form of treatment for the disease, so any form of contact with the disease carrier will transform to infections either through our farm produce which may be badly handled during production and processing”.
The Health and Social Care Director also highlighted cerebrospinal meningitis diseases, which he stressed can be contaminated through dirty environments and poor hygiene, which also causes cholera as well.
“It is important to combat these diseases from coming in contact with people who do not practice proper hygiene or open defecation, untreated water among others.
He emphasised that Prevention of these three major diseases is similar, which involves personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, adequate diet, exercise, and rest.
The State Health Educator, Dr Olaoye Olarinde, while speaking, appreciated the effort of the community stakeholders present such as CAN, League of Imams, and others who will serve as message carriers to their various communities and wards. He reminded everyone to be wary of avoidable death from diseases that are curable if adequately treated.
“Parents and stakeholders have to be aware of preventive measures such as taking free vaccines to prevent diseases for children such as BCG for tuberculosis. Pathogens are common in our environment, but they only survive in poorly maintained environments as he harped on regular exercise and the habit of hand washing.
The State Epidemiologist, Oyo State, Dr Iyabo Kareem talked specifically on surveillance and reporting of the disease outbreak where she explained in details that there are 10 community informants in each ward across the 33 Local Government of Oyo State.
“We have 10 community informants called the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) in the ward level across the 33 Local Government of Oyo State and we meet annually to share knowledge on symptoms of these different disease outbreaks and mode of reporting.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) also stated that this national sensitization campaign against infectious diseases has flagged off in Oyo State, and the process will be carried out nationwide across all other states.
Other stakeholders present at the sensitization campaign include Alhaja Isiwat Abiola Ameringun, the Iyaloja of Ibadanland; representatives of both CAN chairman and the Chief imam of Ibadanland, Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakr Agbotomokekere as well as other stakeholders.
