Nigerian Universities are not taking things for granted since the outbreak of Lassa fever, as it has devised a new strategy to tackle the disease squarely.
The fight against Lassa fever has intensified as individuals and corporate institutions at risk of the disease have devised a new method of tackling the problem. The Punch reports that Nigerian Universities are taking the lead as many have deployed the services of cats to tackle Lassa fever threat on campuses.
The report says that schools like University of Benin, Edo State; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Enugu State University of Science and Technology to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have all employed the new tactics and it is working.
The report further revealed that students no longer want to use their eyes to see rodents and have stopped the habit of drinking garri which was a customary ceremony before the outbreak of the disease. In fact, any thought of co-habiting with rats is now forbidden as students are not left out in the cat business. Some have brought in cats to hunt rats and eliminate any traces of Lassa fever.
The report states that the authorities of UNIBEN are not giving anything to chance, especially with the reported death of a final-year engineering student. The student was said to be an occupant in Hall Three, one of the hostels on Ugbowo campus of the university.
But the UNIBEN management, through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, dismissed the speculation about the death of a student of the university.
According to him, there is no truth in the story that a final-year student died of the virus.
Osasuyi, who, however, said the university was carrying out proactive measures to forestall any outbreak in the institution, added that a committee had been set up to sensitise members of staff and students to the dangers of the virus.
He also hinted of plans to “de-rat the university” as part of efforts to check the prevalence of rodents in the community.
Osasuyi added, “The vice-chancellor has mandated the student union to organise sensitisation programmes. Before any outbreak, the university is even proactive. The population of student is much; so, we cannot take chances. It is no news that we have rats everywhere.”
However, it was also learnt that the various hostels had been fortified with cats allegedly provided by the university management to control the number of rats within the community.
But to escape contracting the virus, a 400-level medical student, Eddy Uwughiren, said many students on campus had increased their commitment to personal hygiene.
Uwughiren said, “I know that the school has organised a seminar to enlighten students on Lassa fever. There are school cats that kill the rats. Rats are very common in our hostels but the cats do kill them. For me, I ensure that I cover all my edibles well. It is the same with my roommates; we try to maintain a high level of hygiene.”
The report also revealed that the traditioin is still same in Ahmadu Bello University. It was gathered that the authorities, in declaring war on rats, provided cats on hostels, especially on Samaru and Kongo campuses.
The Director, Health Services of the ABU, Dr. Hauwa Nana-Madugu, who confirmed this, however, said the university was free of Lassa fever. According to her, all the hostels – Amina, Suleiman, Akenzua, Danfo-dio, ICSA/Rammat – have been provided with cats to eliminate all rats.
Besides fumigating and clearing the surroundings, students and members of staff, she said, had been sensitised to the danger of the disease.
She added, “Apart from fumigating the environment, clearing of the bushes and rats’ (reservoir), the various hostels have been provided with cats to attack the rats. The university has no option but to safeguard the lives of the residents of the community.”
Other Universities like UNICAL and the Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, have reduced the consumption of garri with cold water (‘soaking’) due to the fear of the virus.
Though there has not been any reported case of Lassa fever in the state, the authorities of UNICAL and UNN are not leaving anything to chance as they have started sensitization campaign to warn their workers about Lassa fever and the preventive methods available.
It would be recalled that about 60 persons have died since the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria. Many have been warned to keep their environment clean and make sure their cooking utensils and plates are washed well before use. Help experts have also warned against drinking garri.
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