By Chioma Umeha
The Bauchi State government has unveiled its plan
to establish isolation and diagnosis centres for the treatment of infectious
diseases including lassa fever.
This was disclosed yesterday by the state
Commissioner for health, Dr Halima Mukaddas when he received the delegation of
the Community Health Research Initiative led by the Zonal Coordinator, Dr Aminu
Magashi on a courtesy call.
She said the centres will be established with the
support of the federal government in order to manage the outbreak of the infectious disease.
“With the support of the Federal Government, we
have identified that there is a
need for a diagnostic center in the state and the federal government will
support us to establish a diagnosis centre.
The state government will also establish an
isolation centre for all infections diseases so that we will will be able to
take proper care of those that are
already infected with such communicable and infectious diseases like lassa fever.
Following the outbreak of lassa fever that started
in November last year, we have had six confirmed cases and we have put measures
in place to curtail it by embarking on increased sensitization and awareness on
how people can prevent themselves from contracting the disease.
We also procured medications to give to those that
came into contact with confirmed cases so that it will prevent them from
contracting the disease”.
Dr Halima thereby gave the asusrance to partner
with the media and Non Governmental Organizations in promoting health care
services in the state.
Dr Mukaddas expressed her determination to
implement the five point health agenda launched by Governor Abubakar across the state especially in
rural areas.
She said “We will establish leagues of
friends in all the health
facilities in the state to ensure communities are involve in various
interventions that we planned for our people because community structure is very important to ensure that the
five point health agenda is successful.
Earlier, the zonal coordinator of CHR, Dr Aminu Magashi congratulated
the Commissioner for her appointment and assured them of their support for the
success of all health projects in the state.
Also speaking, the state coordinator of
Evidence for Action, a UKAID
project, Ahmed Mohammed said the aim of the visit is to assure her of
their support in achieving the
five point health agenda .
“We all must work together to ensure that the five
point agenda becomes a success.” he said.
