INTEGRATED RODENT CONTROL & COMMUNITY SANITATION

IN EDO STATE

Location

(state / LGA):

Edo State / Etsako and Akure Town in Ondo State.

Date:

May 8- 11 , 2019

Venue:

Etsako West Local Government Council

Conference Hall, Edo State

Introduction:

This report is a narration of the detail events and proceedings of the training of Environmental Health Officers (EHOS), Community Volunteers, Community rodents control and sanitation personnel,Community leaders, Women and Youths on the protocol for prevention and control of Lassa fever and more importantly a total eradication of the disease from Edo state. The training was conducted at the Council hall in Auchi (Etsako West LGA). The training also involved a Practical Field work on the 2nd day which was carried out in 12 wards of Etsako west LGA in Auchi and 10 wards of Esan west LGA in Ekpoma here in Edo State.

The training was organized by WHO to create awareness on the killer disease called Lassa Fever and to ensure a total eradication of it in the state / LGA since it has 68% of the Country’s report.

Introduction was done by the Project Supervisor Kareem W. Boby and followed by those presences.

Objectives of the Training:

The main objective behind the training on Rodents control and prevention is to get the delegates (state government, LGA chairmen, volunteers, sanitation officials, health workers women and youth) learn the essential ins and outs on the causes, prevention and control of Lassa fever.

Enlighten the women on kitchen /household hygiene promotion, health care and rodents control strategies.

Also, workshop on community based composting of organic waste.

Disease Prevention through Political commitment :

The training was honored by the presence of the 2 LGA’s chairmen, Hon Yakubu Musa and Hon Patrick Aguinede of Etsako west and Esan west respectively which have the highest population of people infected by the disease, Lassa fever, in Edo State.

The commissioner of Health was represented by MrsKehindeOboro.

The Federal ministry of environment and staff of Nigeria center for disease control were all fully represented.

The host, Hon. Yakubu Musa(Chairman Etsako west LGA) spoke about their commitment to ensure a total eradication of Lassa disease from the community, according to him……

·         74persons have been infected from January to date in Etsako west.

·         Jattu community has the highest number of infected people.

·         A Memorandum Of Understanding was written withIrua specialist hospital (ISTH)to ensure treatment of victims of lassa fever is carried out immediatelyand free of charge.

·          N1.5m has been made available for treatment of Lassa fever victims

·         Gave a full scholarship to a Lassa fever victim – Rejoice Ayonote

·         Committed to refund hospital bills of Yakubu Braimah, a former Lassa fever victim.

·         Funds will be made available despite their financial constraint.

Lassa fever heroin in Edo state.

Mrs.Nafisat Ikerodah got a cash gift of N50, 000 from her LGA chairman for her commitment and selfless service.

 Points from a chat with her…..

·         Favour clinic in Afasio records the highest number of Lassa fever cases.

·         2018 recorded 50 cases and  6 were recorded dead

·         To date in 2019, 74 cases recorded and 12 deaths

·         Jattu community has the highest with 50 patients, while Afashio has 15, Afowa 4 and Ayowuri records 5.

·         Azimeyele Evans and his mum were the first case of Lassa fever discovered in January 2018 by Favourclinic.

·         Commends the state health workers and the chairman for their support.

Testimonies of Victims of Lassa fever.

The workshop showcased some victims of the disease, their healing process and their views. The victims includes

·         Braimah Yakubu (treated)

·         Rejoice Ayonote( still in treatment)

·         Aide Odion + 2 children( treated)

·         Azimeyele Evans. (treated)

A chat with Mr Braimah Yakubu revealed that he stored bags of corn in his house which made it easy for the rodents to be accommodated. He was treated at Irua Specialist teaching hospital (ISTH) and went through 5 dialysis, he encourages people to embrace a clean environment and ensure edibles are properly covered and preserved. He also advocates for early detection and treatment so that the disease can be totally cured. Presently he is on a massive raid of rodents in his community and as at date killed over 168 rats from his neighborhood and home.

General Report:

The training started at 10am with an opening remark by DrOgunniyi from the National Center for Disease Control. He gave a magnificent speech on the need to mobilize fund from both state and federal government for total eradication of Lassa fever in Etsako west and Esan west LGA’s.

This was followed by a keynote address by Dr Edwin Isotu of WHO, who gave a brilliant overview of the trends in the infestation and spread of lassa fever in the community and Nigeria as a whole. He also informed participants on the enormous effort WHO and other health related agencies are putting in place to combat this deadly disease.

A practical training on techniques and methods of control and community sanitation was carried out by Dr Victor Adaigbe of Cerpmist. Also, a pest control specialist from Federal ministry of Environment, MrAnjolaKabiru gave a total breakdown on the uses of chemicals and other natural methods for killing rodents.

The chaimen of both LGA’s Mr Yakubu Musa and Mr Patrick both gave their commitment  to provide technical and financial  support required to ensure a zero results in Etsako and Esan west LGAs. At the end of the first day, EHO’s were assigned to volunteers in various community that participated at the training in order to carry out a practical field work.

The second day of the training involved a field work in both LGA’s where delegates were shared into 6 groups in 12 wards of Etsako LGA and 5 groups of the 10wards in Esan west LGA. The workshop also involved a question and answer session with a WHO representative from Uganda,Dr Margaret, on household hygiene promotion education and cleanliness in the kitchen.

It also involved a hands on workshop on community based composting of organic waste by Prof MKC Sridhar of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

Challenges and possible solutions.

1.    Convening delegates for such meeting is challenging as most participants are very busy with schedule so adequate time should be given.

2.    The health workers and volunteers for the training should be properly identified before the registration.