The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reconstituted the committee to boost the state government’s response to the outbreak of Lassa fever epidemic.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists after the weekly Edo State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House, in Benin City.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the governor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, titled, ‘Obaseki boosts response to Lassa fever, reconstitutes c’ttee to contain epidemic’.
She said the committee is headed by the Edo State Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
The commissioner noted that Edo has recorded 136 cases of Lassa fever since the outbreak of the epidemic in the state with a 13 percent fatality rate.
According to her, as of today, we have 136 cases of Lassa fever reported. Two local government areas are leading, including Etsako West and Esan West councils, which account for over 60 percent of total cases.
“The case fatality rate, which is the number of people that have died as the result of Lassa fever, is 13 percent of 100 people who have suffered from Lassa fever.”
She added, “The decision today was to intensify the ongoing response by getting the full weight of the government to bear upon what has been going on. The Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, is going to be leading this response and we are hoping that with the concerted effort that we will be putting on board, we will win the campaign against Lassa fever in the state.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Andrew Emwanta, disclosed that the council also dissolved the ward development committee with immediate effect.
Emwanta further said, “The EXCO also approved a 72-hour rule that makes it mandatory for officials of the Edo State Government, including Commissioners, to treat files that come to them. This means that no file is expected to stay beyond 72 hours untreated. A new query system has been set up for defaulters.”
The Commissioner for Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Donald Okogbe, charged all ward development committee members to hand over all government properties in their care to Heads of Local Government Administration.
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