Lassa Fever: Obinabo Asks Traders To Join Campaign To Promote Prevention

Traders have been urged to join in the crusade against bush burning as a way of preventing Lassa fever and other communicable diseases.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Orientation and Special Duties Mrs Ify Obinabo made the call while addressing traders of Building Materials International Market Ogidi, Idemili North council area.

Mrs Obinabo said she was instructed by Governor Obiano to visit all the markets in the state to sensitise them on the need to be conscious of the deadly diseases now prevalent in the society and how to prevent it.

She advised the traders to stop eating bush meat especially bat and ensure that none of their friends and relatives consume bats, calling on adults not to engage in extra marital sex as well as body to body relationship with anyone, especially now that Valentine celebration is around the corner.

On Lassa Fever, the Special Adviser urged them to stop drinking garri or eating raw foods, because according to her, rats find their ways into foods that are exposed.

She warned those who indulge in bush burning on the dangers they are exposing themselves and members of their families to, as she said that bush rats are forced into the homes when bushes are burnt.

Mrs Obinabo also advised them to always move about with sanitizers and to apply them any time they have handshakes with people, and to rush to Onitsha and Umueri General Hospitals or ministry of health whenever they suspect any unusual ailments, even as she condemned self medication.

The President Building materials International market Ogidi, Chief Jude Nwankwo commended Governor Obiano for initiating the sensitisation programme and for providing firefighting equipment in all the markets in the state which he said was the first time any administration is doing that.

Chief Nwankwo called on the traders to avoid any act that could trigger fire in the market and at their various homes, and advised people to stop harassing the fire personnel whenever they are on rescue mission, even as he promised to ensure that the market and other parts of the state are safe from fire incidents through prompt response to emergencies.