In order to reduce the death rate associated with Lassa fever, especially with regard to patient management and the production of life-saving vaccines and medicines, the Federal Government, yesterday inaugurated the INTEGRATE Consortium.
The consortium, with the collaboration of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and other local and international partners, will work towards developing new therapeutics and vaccines for the treatment of Lassa fever-related ailments.
At the three-day National Case Management Training on Lassa Fever organised by the WHO and the FMOH, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Ekumankama Joseph, who represented the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said: “Some states have become endemic while some record regular outbreaks. In the past five years, the country has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of confirmed cases of Lassa fever, including infections of health workers; hence reinforcing the need to build capacities to adequately manage cases when they arise.
“The recent COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we cannot afford to undermine any effort put in addressing and reducing high-risk viral pathogens such as Lassa fever, as not only can they mutate and prove a new threat, but globalisation can quickly lead to the spread of the disease to non-endemic countries.”
The WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo said: “We will continue to do everything possible to support your efforts, particularly in research, that will lead to the elimination of Lassa fever, not only in Nigeria but also across the world.”
In a chat with reporters, the Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sylvanus Okogbenin, said: “The INTEGRATE Consortium is a global alliance against Lassa fever. We in Nigeria, with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, have taken the lead and formed this consortium with both Nigerian partners and international partners. The Nigerian partners, for now, are the Federal Medical Centre Owo and the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. We are also hoping to soon include the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital and the Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.
“The Consortium is to work with the WHO and other international bodies for the development of new drugs and vaccines for Lassa fever. We strongly believe we can get a potent vaccine for Lassa fever and evidence is showing that if we do that, then we can almost completely remove Lassa fever as a disease entity.”