Treatment for Lassa fever is now free, says FG

The Federal Government says treatment for Lassa fever stays free and asked individuals from the general population to neglect news in actuality.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this in an announcement on Sunday.

The NCDC supervisor unveiled this in a response to daily paper reports that the high cost of treating Lassa fever was in charge of the high death rate recorded so far in the nation.

He said the Federal Government had guaranteed that Ribavirin, the real medication utilized for the treatment of Lassa fever, had been without given of-charge to patients, "for each and every instance of Lassa fever announced in Nigeria."

The announcement read to some extent, "While we recognize the high cost of treating Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, particularly the cost of the medication Ribavirin, we need to state unequivocally that the Federal Government of Nigeria has guaranteed that Ribavirin has been without given of-charge to patients, for each and every instance of Lassa fever revealed in Nigeria in 2018.



"In spite of the noteworthy expenses, there has not been a solitary day of stock-out of Ribavirin in any of the treatment focuses in Nigeria. Likewise, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control has guaranteed that each state in Nigeria has a crisis load of Ribavirin accessible to oversee cases."

He said notwithstanding Ribavirin, the treatment focuses had been furnished with other basic products required for the avoidance, determination and treatment of Lassa fever cases.

Ihekweazu included that the NCDC had fast reaction groups supporting the state legislatures of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi for a month and a half in all parts of the reaction.

The announcement included, "The state administrations of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi, with the most astounding weight of Lassa fever, have additionally contributed fundamentally to the administration of cases, guaranteeing that each and every patient got the most ideal treatment.

"Each of the three state governments have bolstered treatment focuses with dialysis machines and other gear vital for the treatment of Lassa fever patients."