NCDC deploys dialysis machines to states to manage Lassa fever cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it has deployed dialysis machines to five states to support the management of severe Lassa fever cases.

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The Director General of NCDC, Jide Idris, said this on Friday in Abuja, during a press briefing on recent outbreak of Lassa fever in some states.

Mr Idris disclosed that the machines were distributed to Edo, Kaduna, Lagos, Nasarawa and Plateau states as part of efforts to improve case management outcomes.

He explained that the dialysis equipment was procured through corporate support and donor collaboration, noting that the machines were distributed based on burden and treatment needs.

According to him, dialysis is critical in managing complicated Lassa fever cases, particularly where patients develop kidney-related complications.

The NCDC boss emphasised that outbreak response remained a shared responsibility between Federal and state authorities.

“States must prioritise health and strengthen their systems. We can provide support, but implementation at the state level is key,” he said.

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On concerns on rising fatalities, the director general attributed exposure risks in hot spot communities to environmental and behavioural factors, particularly in high-burden areas where rodent-human contact was common.

He added that Nigeria continued to monitor performance indicators under the 7-1-7 surveillance benchmark, which required detection of suspected cases within seven days, reporting within 24 hours and response within seven days.

ALSO READ: Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 74 new cases, 51 deaths in 2026 – NCDC

Responding to questions on funding, Mr Idris acknowledged broader resource constraints within the health sector but stressed that response activities were ongoing within available allocations and partnerships.

On Nigeria’s preparedness to host the upcoming global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) conference, he said the country is making arrangements to receive international stakeholders and showcase national efforts in combating AMR.

He clarified that “non-communicable diseases fall outside the mandate of the NCDC,” noting that the agency is focused on infectious disease surveillance, prevention and response.

The director general reiterated the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state actors to reduce fatalities and strengthen outbreak preparedness nationwide.

(NAN)