By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof. Francis Aba Uba, has called on the Federal Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to designate the institution as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research following the successful completion of a landmark study on Lassa fever.
Professor Uba made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of the findings of the TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa Fever, describing the initiative as one of the most significant research investments in the university’s history.
According to him, the study has not only generated valuable scientific evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and control of Lassa fever but has also significantly strengthened the university’s research infrastructure, laboratory capacity and human resource development.
“Beyond expanding the frontiers of knowledge, the project has strengthened our research infrastructure, enhanced laboratory capacity, developed young investigators, fostered national and international collaborations and produced findings capable of influencing clinical practice and public health policy,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He noted that TETFund demonstrated remarkable foresight about four years ago when it awarded the university a ₦250 million Mega Research Grant to investigate one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges.
“This significant investment was not merely financial support; it was an expression of confidence in the capacity of Nigerian scientists and institutions to generate evidence-based solutions to one of our nation’s most pressing health concerns,” he stated.
Prof. Uba observed that Lassa fever continues to pose serious medical, social and economic challenges across Nigeria and West Africa through recurrent outbreaks that claim lives, overstretch health facilities and threaten national health security.
He said granting FUHSO the status of a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research would consolidate the gains already recorded and position the institution to provide sustained leadership in research, surveillance, innovation and evidence-based responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
“Such recognition will enable the university to build on the successes of this project and continue to contribute meaningfully to national and global health security,” he added.
Presenting the findings of the study, the Principal Investigator, Prof. Joseph Okopi, disclosed that Nigeria bears the highest burden of Lassa fever globally, with between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths recorded annually.
He said the TETFund-funded study is the largest multi-state population surveillance ever conducted on Lassa fever in Nigeria, investigating the prevalence of antibodies, identifying rodent vectors, determining transmission patterns and examining the risk factors associated with infection.
Among the major findings, he revealed that Benue State recorded the highest prevalence of Lassa fever antibodies among the five states surveyed, while adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years were found to have the highest exposure to the virus due to their frequent involvement in farming and other outdoor activities.
The study also identified poor housing conditions, rodent infestation, food contamination, leaking roofs and poorly fitted doors as significant environmental risk factors associated with infection.
In a surprising revelation, Professor Okopi said the widely held belief that eating rodents is a major predictor of Lassa fever infection was not supported by the study, as rodent consumption was not found to be an independent predictor of infection.
Also presenting the clinical findings, Professor Audu Onyemocho disclosed that 1,266 participants were enrolled in the study, while 392 suspected cases were investigated in Benue and Kogi states.
Of the suspected cases, 43 were confirmed positive for Lassa fever through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, with Benue accounting for 25 cases and Kogi recording 18.
He added that bleeding, older age and seizures were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality among confirmed patients.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, commended the university and the research team for producing findings capable of improving healthcare delivery and reducing the burden of infectious diseases in Nigeria.
He challenged Nigerian scientists to identify the fastest pathway towards developing an indigenous vaccine against Lassa fever, noting that vaccination remains the most effective means of controlling infectious diseases.
The TETFund boss assured the researchers that the Fund would work with relevant government institutions, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure that the findings translate into practical national health interventions.
Also speaking, former Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and adviser to the research team, Prof. John Idoko, emphasised that vaccine development remains the ultimate goal in Nigeria’s fight against Lassa fever.
