Anambra bans drinking of Garri in the state over Lassa fever

Due to the reported cases of Lassa fever in some parts of the country, the Anambra State Government has banned the drinking of Garri in other to prevent the contraction of the acute viral haemorrhagic illness.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike made this known while educating residents of the state on measures to prevent the disease at a press conference in Awka.

He said, “The garri you see spread along the highway while you’re travelling is very risky to consume, especially when you drink it. It is better and surer consuming the ones you prepared yourself. We are by this enlightenment prohibiting the drinking of garri in the state.

“Like any other form of disease, good hygiene practices and taking precautions over all forms of symptoms among family members and friends will go a long way to curb the spread of diseases.

“Hand washing remains an effective way of preventing diseases. Families as well as corporate organisations should re-adopt the use of tip taps and hand sanitisers placed in public places.”

This comes after Idowu Ahmed, a 30-year-old doctor with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, died of Lassa fever on Sunday.

A procession was held at the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja on Tuesday, for the late doctor who died of the haemorrhagic illness.

Addressing medical practitioners after the procession, the Chief Medical Directo, Dr Olatunde Alabi, said, “Actually, the late Dr. Idowu Ahmed is one of our new doctors that we have here and he has been very hardworking and dedicated to his duties. We are aware that there is an epidemic in the country and we are trying to put our own measures in place so that we don’t have further spread of the disease.”

Speaking with Punch NG, the Kogi State Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Godwin Tijani said that the persons, who had contact with the deceased, had been quarantined.

“We feel saddened by the death of one of our colleagues. He is a young chap and after two months, he is no more. We will forever miss him.

“As I speak to you, some of his colleagues who had contact with him have been quarantined and some of them had started taking drugs to ensure the effect is not felt,” he said.