Walking Students of the TolyKay College through a #LassaFreeLagos
Amarabem Justice and Christopher Steve
Alert Officers for Apapa and Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGAs
Toly Fun Kay College at Ijora Badia, Apapa, was a host to our team of Alert Officers today. We visited the school to engage the staff and students in the ongoing sensitization on Lassa Fever.
The audience comprised about two hundred (200) students and ten (10) staff members. They were very receptive!
From the questions thrown to them, we saw the students had a fair pre-existing knowledge on the disease, Lassa fever; they knew it is caused by rats, but besides that, they didn’t have more information.
And so we began, taking them through the causes and transmission of Lassa fever, its prevention and how the pivotal role of good hygiene.
Further, we detailed to them the signs and symptoms to watch out for, to identify a possible case of Lassa fever. A lot of emphasis was placed on the recall of the symptoms, and the importance of early detection and reporting as a key in the treatment of Lassa fever. They were encouraged to not take chances and report observations to the nearest health centre.
Through it all, they listened attentively, and their eager responses to the questions we asked afterwards showed that they were now empowered with more knowledge on Lassa fever than they were before our visit.
We left them with posters, depicting our Alertclinic online and offline platforms, and how to utilise them to identify symptoms and report to get help. It was a good day to engage students in our #LassaFreeLagos campaign.
Here are a few to get you going. Remember to Reach Out, Connect and Call!