By Deborah Onyofufeke, Abuja
The federal government disclosed that as of week 34, a total of 909 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever was recorded with 170 deaths, from 25 states in 101, local government areas in the country

The Assistant Director and Head of Response Division, Nigeria Centre For Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Aderinola Olaolu, stated this at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja

Dr Olaolu, further disclosed that 70% of the confirmed cases are from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.

He however noted that the centre’s response activities in curbing the fever, continue in all areas, particularly in areas of state advocacy, infection and prevention, control support and laboratory diagnostics.

Speaking on the monkey pox outbreak in Nigeria he said, “we have 815 suspected cases, out of which, 318 are confirmed cases and 7 deaths have been reported this year”

He noted that plans are in place to work with key partners to support and establish areas for monkeypox research priorities, underline animal reservoirs, population exposure and genomics of transmission change.

“Our response continues with the development of monkeypox communication materials, provision of support to states with face identification,

“We continue to train the infection prevention, and focal persons, and develop IPC guidelines. Perpetual activities have continued and are being strengthened in areas of sample collection, and genomic sequencing”.

The director for Disease Control and Immunisation, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Bassey Okposong, stated that, 46,710,345, eligible persons in the country, have been administered with their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine while 33,808,662, have been fully vaccinated and 3,608,000 have gotten their booster shots.

He reiterated, that the vaccines still remain free in Nigeria and persons who haven’t done so, are encouraged to go take their vaccines and not pay listening ears to rumors, as the number of vaccinated persons, is enough evidence to show that the side effect rumors are false and the vaccines are safe.

To get more persons to come out and take their vaccines, he explained that the agency has been working closely with traditional and religious institutions in the country.

“The services are integrated and we also use this opportunity to call on Nigerians who are yet to receive the vaccine for one reason or the other not to listen to rumours. As at this moment, about, 70,893,000 doses have been administered either as first dose, or second dose or booster and we’ve not seen complications that people are talking about. These vaccines are safe and very effective”.

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He also noted that there are enough vaccines to go around for all eligible “I know there are a lot of people that will say they don’t have enough vaccines, only as at today, where I come from, we have about 35,454,000 doses of vaccines that are available for Nigerians who are eligible”.

The Director of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Salma Ana’s Ibrahim, advised the public on the benefits of living a healthy Lifestyle

She explained that the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle is profitable in the prevention of common diseases and prolonged life. She advised Nigerians to drink water and ensure they stay hydrated, have a healthy balanced work life, ensure they get adequate sleep, a minimum of 8hrs and inculcate exercise in their daily routine

On the other hand speaking on things to avoid that is detrimental to the health, she advised against Drinking, smoking, while she emphasized that Shisha is much more deadlier than Tobacco

“Avoid smoke, of course smoke is one of the major causes of Lung cancer and unfortunately today, in Nigeria, we are witnesses. We have imported culture that is not our culture. We are not just popping smoke but also shisha to the point today that we have shisha points and corners and shisha is more dangerous than tobacco and it has shown that there are high incidences of lung cancer as a result of smoking shisha”.

She also noted that intake of margarine can be very dangerous as it is trans fat and should be avoided at all cost