Daily Chronicle
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has commended the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and its partners for supporting efforts to strengthen Lassa fever research, prevention and response in the state.
The governor, represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Alhaji Hashimu Yakubu Kumbala, gave the commendation when he received a CEPI delegation at Government House, Bauchi. He urged residents to embrace public awareness initiatives, participate in community-based interventions and cooperate with health professionals to promote early detection and effective response to the disease.
The Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Professor Yusuf Jibrin Bara, described Bauchi as one of Nigeria’s Lassa fever flashpoints, stressing the importance of collaboration with international health organisations.
He said the ENABLE Lassa fever programme had supported local capacity development through human resource training, infrastructure, laboratory support, equipment, community engagement and assistance to treatment centres. He added that the visit would enable the partners to assess progress, brief the state government on achievements and discuss the next phase of implementation.
The CEPI team lead said the organisation had invested in the ENABLE programme for about seven years to improve understanding of Lassa fever transmission and its impact across West Africa.
She explained that Bauchi’s distinct geographical and climatic conditions offered valuable research opportunities compared with southern Nigeria, where some earlier studies were conducted. According to her, findings from the programme’s four Nigerian study sites would help address critical scientific questions and inform ongoing Lassa fever vaccine trials.
The programme is expected to continue generating evidence to strengthen research, vaccine development and collaboration among health institutions, researchers and affected communities.