IPNews-Monrovia, Liberia- 22 January 2018:The National Public Health Institute of Liberia has reported an increase in the number of scabies cases across the country to 10,000.
Addressing newsmen over the weekend, Director General Tolbert G. Nyenswah, stated considering the serious increase in the number of scabies cases across the country, something urgently needed to done to addressed looming health issue.
He called for massive sensitization and treatment by both the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and other health partners.
The NPHIL Director General disclosed that currently, there are more than 10,000 cases of scabies in Liberia with Monsterrado County accounting for the highest number of cases ever experienced since the outbreak of the scabies disease.
Tolbert Nyenswah: “ Treating victims in the communities will help to reduce the transmission mold of the disease”. He emphasized.
Mr. Nyenswah said as part of efforts to address the increase in the cases of Scabies in Liberia, particularly Montserrado County, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has embarked on treating victims of the disease in various communities in Monrovia and its environs.
“We are in the various hotspots of the scabies disease to identify and treat victims of the disease so as to help in the reduction if not eradicate the spread of the disease”. Mr. Tolbertsaid.
Over the weekend, Director General Tolbert G. Nyenswah led a team of public health specialist to the Peace Island in Congo Town which had been one of the hot spots of the scabies disease and conducted treated for several victims of the disease meanly children from the age 3-14 years.
Director General Tolbert G. Nyenswah , further disclosed that huge consignments of ivermectin (the drugs used to treat scabies victims) are being brought into the country to combat the disease.
Nyenswah stated that the ivermectin drug has proven to be 100 percent cure rate to those treated for scabies, adding since the outbreak of the scabies disease there has been no death reported.
Meanwhile, the public health expert is calling on the general public not to panic as the government is doing everything possible to address the situation.
Also speaking was the Deputy NPHIL Director General for Infectious Disease, Dr. Ralph Jetoh, who stressed the importance of keeping the environment clean and avoid wearing dirty cloths.
Dr. Jetoh, also cautioned people coming in contact with scabies victims because it has the tendency of spreading. Currently there are 490 scabies cases in the Peace Island, according to NPHIL.
