Love Poem: The Year of Rats
Hussaina Bello Avatar
Written by: Hussaina Bello

The Year of Rats

2020 is the year of lassa fever 
Or the year of rats as I've heard somewhere,
For as innocent as they might seem They are now reservoirs,
Of these dreaded virus Causing lassa fever
That  has spread widely in Africa
In Nigeria benin ghana
And now Sierra


To avoid lassa you need to take care,
Of your surrounding leave no holes
For entrance ,
When you feel ill Don't say it's just a fever a symptom of malaria  typhoid or yellow fever
Don't hesitate it might be the silent killer
By that I mean lassa hemorrhagic  fever 

Don't be blinded by phrases  common in Africa
Like the popular saying *Small disease no dey kill Africans*,
Alas African man too can be killed with lassa fever,
Within days it can bring his death near,

So don't be foolish enough to draw your death near,
 avoid lassa by Maintaining hygiene in the household areas,
Rodents aren't best friends to humans in these era,
So keep them of your home as a preventive measure,
Avoid contact with infected individuals
Don't only bullet proof your doors get yourself a rodent proof food containers,
Or get a beautiful cat thatll rid them off your area.


To avoid lassa we must be vigilant 
Not just you and me
But all those working in health centres ,
Working hard day and night to provide us with care,
Thier kind of devotion and love is so rare,
If they died if lassa we'll be in despair,
So let's remind all of them from far and near,
To take proper precaution in patient care,
Google's and mask shoul always be weard,
Hand hygiene shouldn't be forgotten before and after each procedure,
And proper disposal technique shoul be ensured,
So they don't fall victims of lassa fever.