BY ADEKOLA BOLUWAJI NIFEMI

Adewale Egbedun, an Osun House of Assembly for the Odo Otin state constituency, attributed the recent spike in Lassa fever cases in the country to the federal government’s neglect of rural residents.

Egbedun argued that the federal government must take a proactive approach to combating the scourge of Lassa fever, as it has done during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than leaving the burden of preventing and treating the disease to state governments.

Noting that many rural communities lack quality healthcare facilities to deal with health emergencies, he added that many rural residents, who are frequent victims of Lassa fever, are in most cases unable to afford the resources to provide what is required for access to quality private health care.

A signed statement from lawmakers received in Osogbo on Saturday further said: “The Nigerian Center for Disease Control stated in its 15-week Lassa fever situation report that a total of 877 confirmed cases of Lassa fever Lassas have been registered in 26 states. and 101 municipalities from January 1 to April 16, 2023

“It also became known that a total of 4,702 suspected cases were registered in the reporting period.The health agency also noted that the death rate from the outbreak was 17.3%, with the current death toll.

“The federal government of Nigeria neglects the welfare of the rural population too much. This is why we have seen an increase in confirmed cases of Lassa fever in recent weeks. Rural communities do not have adequate healthcare systems to deal with cases like Lassa fever, and many rural people cannot afford low-cost private healthcare.

“So what we need is a nationalist approach to combating Lassa fever, like we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, not every state government having to put up with brunch.”