NYSC GOES PROACTIVE, SENSITISES CORPS MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES ON LASSA FEVER

Lassa fever,  an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus carried by mastomys rats,  a type of rat that is common in West Africa, has in recent times been reported to have killed some persons in Ondo and other parts of the country.

To prevent the monstrous tide from spreading its tentacles to corps members serving in Osun State,  the NYSC management in the state took proactive measures to ensure her members are well protected from the scourge of the virus which was reported to have been spotted in the state recently. On Thursday,  medical personnel from teaching hospitals,  Primary Healthcare Centres,  general hospitals, across the state where invited to sensitise corps members across the thirty local governments and area office.

The Medical personnel enlightened the NYSC members on the meaning, history,  causes,  preventive measures and treatment for the Lassa fever. According to the facilitators in Ife East, Ife Central, Ifelodun, Ayedaade, Boluwaduro, Isokan,  Iwo and Ayedire local governments,  about 80% of infected persons have no symptoms and infection can occur from contact with food and household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces or through contact with infected persons.

The facilitators further enlightened the members to ensure they maintain good hygiene at all times and that they should also ensure were they live is rodent free as much as possible.

Fully armed with these information,  corps members in some of the local governments in the state took to the streets to sensitise members of the community on the prevention of the scourge and also on the need to ensure very clean surroundings in the community.

Corps members in Ola-Oluwa went practical by cleaning the surroundings of the palace and some other parts of the community.
This exercise earned the local government inspector of Ola-Oluwa,  Mrs Omolara Olawuni a chieftancy title as the royal father described her as the best LGI the local government has ever had since 2015.

He further appreciated and commended the scheme for always encouraging corps members to give their service selflessly and humbly to the betterment of the society.