Some residents of Enugu State have continued to drink cassava flakes, Garri in spite of caution against it due to resurgence of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.
A cross section of the residents who engage in the practice told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that the disease called Lassa fever was strange to them, as they only heard of it through the media.
Mr Ebuka Onyia, a tricycle repairer at Awkunanaw Area of Enugu, said that he drank gari often especially when the weather was hot.
Onyia said that Lassa fever was strange to him and it would not stop him from drinking or eating garri.
“Garri is one of the cheapest staple foods a family could afford and get satisfied after eating.
“I started hearing about Lassa fever just this year through the media and I have not seen anybody suffering from it.
“So, I do not think the illness really exist, because it is difficult for someone to stop drinking garri due to a fever that is existing in some other parts of the country,” he said.
Mrs Joy Okonkwo, a fish seller said that she drank garri most afternoons as lunch because she enjoyed it with cold water, groundnut, milk and sugar.
“I use garri for my lunch, though not every day but when the weather is hot. It is one of my favourite foods, so it will be difficult for me to stop taking it.
“For me, there is no disease attached to drinking garri, after all, the practice has been in existence for ages and nobody has been confirmed dead from it,” she said.
Mr Kelechi Amadi, a commercial driver told NAN that he only heard about the disease on radio, adding that since it was not in Enugu, he had been drinking garri and nothing has happened to him.
“Since Lassa fever has not spread to Enugu, I am still drinking my garri, because it is easy to prepare.
“Enugu State Government should continue to protect our environment so that the disease will not find its way into the state for me to continue to enjoy taking it,” he said.
However, an undergraduate, Miss Amaka Uzoma said that drinking garri was one of the favourite meals but with the resurgence of Lassa Fever, she decided to quit.
A teacher, Mrs Nonye Nwoye said that she had since stopped her children from drinking garri because of the disease.
“I am aware of the disease, so I have stopped my children from drinking garri for now because they like taking it as snack especially when the weather is too hot,” she said.
A dealer in garri at Ogbete Market, Mrs Precious Okoli, said that the demand and patronage of garri did not dwindle because it was affordable and easy to prepare.
The Director of Public Health, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr Okechukwu Ossai cautioned the farmers to process garri in hygienic environment to prevent contracting Lassa-fever, typhoid and other communicable disease.
“People should ensure that the water used in garri processing is clean, properly fried and adequately stored, so that rodents do not come in contact with it,’’ he said. (NAN)
