At the first Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, three main issues were discussed.
The increasing number of Lassa Fever cases in the State as well as measures to contain the spread of the deadly disease were deliberated.
After extensive deliberations, the Council resolved that it has become expedient to call on the international community, specifically the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other agencies within the global health ecosystem with a mandate to intervene in infectious disease outbreaks to come to our aid.
This call has become necessary as the Federal Government of Nigeria has clearly abandoned Edo State and our people in the fight against Lassa Fever that is spreading at an alarming rate.
As at today, we have over 50 persons infected. According to experts, our case fatality rate in the State is 5 per cent and this is sufficient reason to be deeply worried and alarmed.
All pleas and entreaties to Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other federal agencies to come and support us to save our people from Lassa Fever, have been ignored.
This is particularly disheartening especially as the current minister for health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is from Edo State.
Haven hit a brick wall, we are constrained to reach out to international intervention agencies.
The Council was also informed that the remaining two hostages from the Igueben train station kidnap incident had been rescued and Seven suspects have been arrested and currently in police custody including two village chiefs.
The State Executive Council also gave a March 31st, 2023 deadline to owners and operators of hotels, night clubs, lounges, churches and mosques as well as event centers to soundproof their facilities from polluting the environment with noise levels above the set standards.
Recall that at the October 2022 meeting with these operators, the Edo State Government issued the directive.
Signed:
Chris Osa Nehikhare
Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation.
