Abuja – The National Hospital (NHA), Abuja, has appealed to private and public hospitals to ensure prompt referral of patients suspected with Lassa fever to prevent further loss of lives.
Dr Adetayo Haastrup, the spokesperson of the hospital, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Haastrup early referrals would also forestall further spread of the disease and curb its mortality rate.
He was apparently reacting to the death of a 33-year-old man who died shortly after he was referred to the hospital on Wednesday.
Haastrup explained that the patient who was in a private hospital in Kubwa for eight days before he was brought to NHA in a critical condition.
The spokesman noted that the patient would have made it if he was brought to the hospital much earlier.
He enjoined health workers to rise up to their oath of saving patient lives and wellbeing as priority.
According to him, the body of the deceased had been well packed and deposited in the mortuary, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health would take care of other further actions.
“A 33-year-old patient suspected case of Lassa fever was brought to this hospital and the patient who married last December, has been in a private hospital in Kubwa for one week.
“When we suspected that he was suffering from Lassa fever we quickly transfer him to the isolation ward which we had already prepared for suspected cases of the disease.
“Nigerians should not panic; concerning the one we had in the hospital we did everything possible and the staff around are well kitted, precautions are taken.
“The hospital is fully prepared in the outbreak of the disease, we have a lay down procedure which have been followed and all the staff are doing well and well kitted; they took precautions,’’ he said.
Besides, Haastrup advised residents to reports suspicious illnesses to the nearest medical and facility to them for appropriate action.
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NAN reports that symptoms of the disease include high fever which is usually about 38 degree centigrade, general body ache and sour throat, among others. (NAN)