Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced that it has sent dialysis machines to five states in Nigeria to support the treatment of severe Lassa fever cases, as the country continues to deal with a worsening outbreak.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a press briefing in Abuja, the Director‑General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the machines were distributed to Edo, Kaduna, Lagos, Nasarawa, and Plateau states based on the burden of disease and treatment needs the health facilities are facing.
Dialysis is considered a vital part of managing complicated Lassa fever cases, particularly when patients develop kidney‑related complications, and is used alongside antiviral drugs and other supportive care to improve outcomes for those with severe illness.
The equipment was procured through a combination of corporate support and donor collaboration, the agency said, and reflects efforts to strengthen case management as part of the national response strategy.
Dr Idris emphasised that while the federal government can provide technical support and resources, state governments must prioritise health system strengthening and proper implementation at the local level to make these interventions effective.
The deployment comes as Nigeria grapples with a growing Lassa fever outbreak in 2026, with the NCDC confirming hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths nationwide, prompting calls for enhanced infection control, community engagement, and improved disease surveillance across affected regions.
