A Media Consutant and former National Trustee of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,Chief Fidel Onyeneke has called for a more proactive measure and strategy to check the outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.
In a statement in Owerri, Chief Onyeneke called for aggressive public enlightenment especially in the rural areas,using traditional methods of communication. He urged the government to despatch medical teams immediately to various communities to talk to the masses in market squares,churches,meeting venues and other places of gathering as a deliberate effort to educate the people on good hygiene and prevention of the diseases.
Chief Onyeneke regretted the poor attitude and response of the government on issues that affect the health of the masses. According to him,government devotes more time to politics of re-election and succession rather than protecting the lives of the citizenry.
Chief Onyeneke advised the government to give top priority to the checking of the spread of the disease to avoid the looming disaster posed by the lassa fever outbreak.
The media consultant appealed to media houses to use their professional acumen to educate the masses on the mode of contacting and preventing diseases as part of the social responsibility of the media.
Chief Onyeneke called for adequate provision of funds by the government to enable the major stakeholders including Health institutions and Media workers to fight the scourge.
The former Imo NUJ Chairman noted that it only when the people are healthy that the states and nation can talk of economic growth,political development and good governance.(Ends)