Adewale Egbedun, the incoming member of the Osun House of Assembly for the Odo Otin State Constituency, has attributed the current increase in Lassa Fever cases in the nation on the federal government’s disregard for rural residents.
Egbedun argued that rather than leaving state governments to shoulder the responsibility of prevention and treatment, the federal government should act proactively to combat the epidemic of Lassa Fever, much as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He pointed out that many rural areas lack high-quality healthcare facilities that could handle medical emergencies. He also said that many rural residents, who frequently contract Lassa Fever, frequently lack the financial means to seek superior private healthcare.
A statement signed by the lawmaker obtained in Osogbo on Saturday, further read, “Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in its 15th-week Lassa Fever situation report, said a total of 877 confirmed cases of Lassa fever were recorded in 26 states and 101 local government areas from January 1 to April 16, 2023.
“It also revealed that, during the period under review, a total of 4,702 suspected cases were recorded. The public health institution also noted that the case-fatality ratio of the outbreak stood at 17.3 per cent, with the current death toll.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is too negligent of the well-being of rural dwellers. This is the reason we have a surge in the confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in the last few weeks. Rural Communities lack the appropriate healthcare system that can handle cases like Lassa Fever and many of the rural dwellers who, at the lower level of the ladder, can not afford private healthcare.
“So, what we need is a nationalistic approach to fight Lassa Fever just as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic and not that each state government will be left to bear the brunch.”
