NAN-HG-5
By Moses Kolo
Hygiene
Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Jan. 29, 2018 (NAN) With more states getting hit by Lassa Fever, Mrs. Sarah Dadai, Director, Primary Health Care (PHC), in Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna State, has counseled women to pay special attention to their kitchens.
“The disease is spread by rats whose main domain in the house is the kitchen and store; women must protect their families by ensuring proper sanitation in the kitchen. That is the best way to avoid contact with the fever,” Dadai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kafanchan.
She advised women to always clean up their kitchens before going to bed, and also ensure that all food items, whether cooked or raw, were covered.
Dadai highlighted the importance of securing food items usually dried under the sun, especially those in powdered form, to avoid contact with rats.
The director urged residents of the area to maintain proper hygiene and keep their environments clean so as to rid the environment of rats and other rodents.
She also emphasised the need to keep cooking utensils well-secured, to avoid being contaminated by rodents.
Dr. Jonathan Gajere, the Medical Director, General Hospital, Kafanchan, who also spoke on the fever, advised people to avoid contact with the blood of rats.
“Everything possible should be done to avoid rats because they feed and and urinate on food substances.
“People should cook their food properly, especially food items that are exposed to rats, so as to reduce the risk of contracting the disease,” he said.
The director advised medical workers to be very cautious while treating patients so as to minimise the possibility of contracting the disease in the course of duty. (NAN)
MGK/FLP/ETS
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Ephraims Sheyin