Earlier this week, the head of the infectious Diseases Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr Iorhen Akase,in a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos has advised the general on how to prevent infectious diseases which is through sensitization of the public and maintaining the best hygiene practices.
During the Interview, he said, “There are two major factors that drive infectious diseases; poverty and illiteracy. In any society where you have a high poverty rate and illiteracy, there will surely be infectious diseases.
“Tackling these ills goes beyond treating infection. It goes beyond medical issues to socio-economic issues. When socioeconomic indices of the society improve, infection rate declines.”
“We have to holistically look at literacy rate, reduction of poverty, vaccination, housing, environmental hygiene and waste disposal.”
He also noted during the interview that some states are experiencing a rise in viral infections, most especially with the present dry and cold weather conditions in the country, which could possibly cause damage to the respiratory mucosal of humans.
Apart from the above-mentioned diseases Dr Akase also noted that diseases such as Lassa fever, meningitis, cholera, malaria, and tuberculosis, and some other diseases are still very much affecting the country and the only way to do this is by putting the right measures in place.
He expressed that measures such as public awareness and education should be intensified by the government in order to sensitize the general public about these diseases and the effective ways in which they can be prevented.
Additionally he advised the infectious disease healthcare workers to always execute proper infection prevention and control measures when fighting against infectious diseases.
He also spoke on the need to embrace a One Health Approach in order to tackle daily health threats affecting the well beings of humans and animals in the environment at large.
Finally, he urged the general public to practice good personal and environmental hygiene by preventing stagnant water in their environment, blocking holes that could lead rodents into the house, properly disposing garbage and to also desilt drainage.