KDSG trains Red Cross volunteers on Lassa Fever intervention
The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has begun a three-day training for 180 Red Cross volunteers on Lassa fever intervention.
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The training, which is facilitated by the ministry and funded by the Red Cross, is meant to equip the volunteers selected from 5 LGAs in the state with necessary skills.
The volunteers were drawn from Zaria, Igabi, Kaduna South, Kaduna North and Chikun Divisions.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Jeremiah Dikwu said the volunteers were trained with the knowledge needed to massively intervene during cases of Lassa fever in the state.
He said that, “The intervention would include Risk Communication and Active Case Search, Psychological First Aid, Rodent Control and Hygiene Promotion for the next 3 months.
“The training started with 30 volunteers on surveillance and would end with the training of 150 volunteers on Risk Communication and Community Engagement.”
According to him, Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted by rats. Lassa fever has been known since the 1950’s, but the virus was not identified until 1969, when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of Lassa in Nigeria.
Dikwu added that Lassa fever was caused by a single stranded RNA virus and disseminated systemic primary viral infection.
He also said, the volunteers would be carrying out Risk communication and Community engagement, Active Case Search, Psychological First Aid, Rodent Control and Hygiene Promotion.
