LUTH trains 500 staff for emergency on Lassa fever

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) said it has trained over 500 staff on Lassa fever, as two more doctors tested positive in the hospital as at Monday.

According to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, the trained personnel were taken through various aspects of the contagious ailment.

The importance of a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and referral were highlighted to medical workers who were also enjoined to observe universal precautions while attending to any patient who may be suspected of having Lassa fever. There is a fully equipped response squad available round the clock to assess and take over the management of any suspected cases in LUTH,” Prof. Bode said.

Three doctors admitted with confirmed Lassa fever previously in the hospital have all been certified fit and discharged as repeated tests on them showed they no longer harbour the disease.

He said various meetings have been held with doctors and other members of staff to reinforce the messages while fresh trainings have also been conducted and are ongoing for staff at the forefront of patients’ care.

Prof Bode added that both the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Ministry of Health have supported LUTH with the provision of more drugs and Personal Protective Equipment, follow up services and decontamination.

The CMD said internal enquiry has been empanelled to audit possible breaches in established service protocols and any other reasons that resulted into personnel getting infected.

However, a senior medical officer at the hospital, who craved for anonymity, told Daily Trust on Monday that one more doctor was tested positive on Monday and is currently being treated.

This is a continuous thing. Only two people out of seven victims had died from the virus in the hospital since the break out last month. This virus is like malaria. We are working assiduously to overcome this dreaded disease and we are optimistic, buoyed by the successful discharge of those three doctors who had earlier tested positive, the new two doctors will be discharged this week, hopefully,” he said.