From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State government has reported an increase in number of Lassa Fever cases.
The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr. Yanmar Marcellinus Ortese disclosed that 820 cases were received, 63 confirmed with 16 deaths while 2 persons are on admission and in very stable condition.
Dr. Ortese who made this disclosure in Makurdi on Monday at a press briefing to commemorate 2024 World Health Day, lamented that the State has experienced multiple disease outbreak including measles and Buruli Ulcer among other diseases.
According to him, “we are responding to the largest Fever outbreak in the history of our State”, adding that their capacities are stretched particularly as the state lack a functional public health Molecular Laboratory.
“Additionally, our fight against Tuberculosis, TB is ongoing with the State ranking 6th in the country and 1st in tht North Central zone”, he said.
The Health Commissioner stressed the need to establish a state-of-art Molecular Laboratory to enhance the State disease surveillance and response capabilities.
On achievements recorded by the government, he disclosed that over 50,000 of the most vulnerable population have been enrolled into the State Health Insurance Scheme under the basic health care fund program across the 276 political wards of the State.
He further said that 5,500 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs have also been enrolled in the Health Insurance Scheme thereby optimizing healthcare delivery to these most vulnerable of the vulnerable.
Said he, “our efforts have been further bolstered by the employment of approximately 400 new personnel at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi and procurement of essential medical equipment, enhancing our tertiary healthcare services.
“We call upon all stakeholders across sectors of the Government, international partners, the private sector and the civil society to join hands with us in consolidating our efforts to strengthen our health system to cope with the ever increasing needs of our large population”, he appealed.
World Health Organization, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti represented by Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim WHO State Coordinator Benue State, averred that consideration of vulnerable groups must be assessed, positing that their needs ought to be purposively integrated into health programmes at all levels to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Care, UHC.
“We know that many in our region still need help with access to quality essential health services due largely to unfulfilled rights. This is further compounded by protracted and ongoing crisis such as conflicts, climate change, food security, disease outbreak and epidemics.”
