EBONYI STATE TO SPEND N250m TO COMBAT LASSA

Ebonyi State government is to spend two hundred and fifty million naira to combat the spread of lassa fever virus in the state.

Governor David Umahi stated this while inspecting Lassa Fever Diagnostic Centre being constructed by the State government at the Federal Teaching Hospital, FETHA two Abakaliki.

Chief Umahi noted that the state government was spending sixty four million naira for the construction of the Centre while four well equipped ambulances would be procured to serve at emergency centres for urgent medical attention to persons with suspected cases.

He explained that the state government had approved the procurement of four dialysis machines out of which one would be kept at the centre while the rest would be distributed to selected Health facilities in the three zones of the state.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Dr Emeka Onwe had while conducting the Governor round the centre, expressed appreciation to the state government for being responsive to the issue of lassa fever which had ravaged the people of the area since 2005.

Dr Onwe stated that all the equipment needed for the take-off of the centre had been procured by the state government and pointed out that the Hospital was collaborating with the Inter-ministerial committee set up to roll back the spread of the virus.