FG Earmarks N140million to Fight Lassa Fever, Death Toll Now 41

The federal government on Tuesday, January 12 earmarked the sum of N140 million as funds to tackle the Lassa fever ravaging some areas in the country.

This came as the total number of deaths has now risen to 41. In a joint press briefing in Abuja, Minister of Health,  Isaac Adewole and his Information and Culture counterpart, Lai Mohammed, assured that efforts are being made by government to arrest further spread of the disease, which is now present in 10 states of the federation.

Adewole said: “With respect to the cost, we are currently handling it within our in-house resources, using drugs that we had in stock. But we are trying to replenish our stocks; we estimate that we will spend 56 million naira to replenish the drugs. And in order to mount the response; we are looking at 140 million naira.

“So everything is manageable within the budget of the Federal Ministry of Health, we need not panic for now. When we set up an inter-ministerial committee to ensure that we finally declare Lassa fever dead, buried completely, we will come up with the budget,” he maintained.

The minister explained that government will be discreet and transparent with any funds geared towards fighting the disease, adding: “We will also be very realistic in line with the posture of the present administration. We are not going to declare a bazaar, so no one should expect to feast on Lassa fever.”