The Chairman of the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA), Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah recently paid an unscheduled visit to the Primary Health Care Centre, Akwukwu-Igbo, as part of sensitization on Lassa fever.
During the visit, the Primary Health Care Coordinator of Oshimili North and seven staff at the Primary Health Care Centre, Akwukwu-Igbo were summoned to appear before the Chairman of the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA).
The Chairman of the Agency, Dr Isioma Okobah, gave the order when she visited the Health Centre in Akwukwu-Igbo and met the placed locked and said that the era of laxity among health workers was over. She frowned at the attitude of health workers abandoning their duty post, adding that regular and unscheduled visits to PHCs had commenced.
At the Abraka Market, in Asaba where Dr Okobah led a team from the Agency and Oshimili South PHC, she asserted that the sensitization was not to create panic but to enlighten people about the Lassa scourge emphasising on preventive rather than curative measures.
She disclosed that the tour on creating awareness on Lassa fever would be state wide and advised residents to practice personal hygiene such as hand washing and proper covering of food items.
Dr. Okobah  also dispelled opinions that the Lassa fever infection was spiritual or politically used to extract government money, saying that the state had recorded three deaths from Lassa fever and that that the awareness was necessary to curb the spread.
At the Ogbeogonogo market Asaba, the State Health Educator, Mrs Ijeoma Popo, urged anyone with malaria symptoms such as fever, sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, cough, headache and chest pain, or other severe symptoms including swelling of the face, eye, neck and hand, bloody diarrhea or bleeding from any opening in the body, to visit the nearest health centre or hospital.
The team also visited Aninwalo Community, in Oshimili North LGA, where the community was taught ways at keeping Lassa fever out from their lives.
The Regent of Aninwalo Community, Prince Uchendi Odor, appreciated the chairman and the team for the health awareness, adding that all the precautionary measures would be practiced.
He appealed to the State Government to take over the health center in the community built by a House of Representative member saying the community members go as far as Akwukwu-Igbo and Ukala Okpunor for medical services.
The team also visited the Midwifery Market in Okpanam where health talk was given and handbills distributed.