Piloting of a Lassa fever clinical training package to strengthen Lassa fever response capacity in West Africa

Abstract

Introduction Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa, posing challenges to outbreak containment. The absence of standardized clinical training undermines timely detection and care, particularly in low-experience settings. To address this, WHO and partners developed a targeted training package focused on equipping healthcare workers with essential clinical and outbreak response competencies. Methods Structured over 3 or 5 days, the training combines didactic sessions, practical exercises, clinical scenarios, and simulation excesise. It offers two pathways: Pathway 1, a basic training for early detection and referral and Pathway 2 an advanced supportive care package. Advocacy visits were integrated to engage stakeholders and promote sustainable funding. Participants were drawn from multiple agencies and professional cadres, including health facilities and government bodies. Results Pilots were conducted in 2024 with 232 participants trained (36% female) across Ebonyi (39%), Bauchi (30%), and Benue (31%). A majority (88%) were from healthcare facilities, reflecting a strong primary care bias: Primary (31; 13%), Secondary (22; 10%), and Tertiary (13; 6%). This distribution supports early detection and timely referral—the cornerstone of outbreak containment. Participants included medical doctors (31%), nurses (22%), community health officers (CHO) (7%), and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) (6%). CHOs and DSNOs were more prominent in Pathway 1 (p = 0.024), reinforcing the focus on grassroots detection. Training led to improved pre/post assessment scores. Thirty-nine facilitators (31% female) from NCDC, WHO, and teaching hospitals supported delivery, with roles spanning case management, IPC, and coordination. Conclusion This training package significantly strengthened Lassa fever response capacity, by equipping multi-agency teams with clinical and coordination skills. Its adaptability and advocacy components make it a strategic tool for outbreak preparedness in both endemic and at-risk settings.