Evaluating Health Facility Preparedness and Response to Lassa Fever Outbreaks in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Lassa fever remains an endemic viral hemorrhagic illness in Nigeria, with agrarian hubs like Lafia, Nasarawa State, bearing recurrent seasonal outbreaks that severely strain front line healthcare systems. This study evaluated health facility preparedness and operational response capacity during periodic Lassa fever epidemics across public and private health sectors in Lafia. descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 multi-disciplinary healthcare workers across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities in Lafia Local Government Area. Quantitative data gathered using a validated, structured questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS Version 26.0. Pearson’s Chi-square tests were performed to determine associations between facility ownership/level and readiness parameters (p<0.05). Findings revealed an asymmetric, fragile state of readiness. While 78.0% of respondents reported functional emergency outbreak response teams, structural execution was bottle necked: only 48.0% had operational isolation spaces, 35.0% had continuous access to personal protective equipment (PPE), and 25.0% had received formal training on Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs). Surveillance mechanisms showed high reporting structural awareness (70.0%) but low operational timeliness (40.0%). Facility ownership significantly influenced readiness, with public facilities demonstrating higher structural response teams (χ2=14.82,p<0.001) but severe material stock outs compared to private facilities. Key systemic barriers identified were chronic under funding (85.0%), acute personnel shortages (75.0%), and absent point-of-care laboratory diagnostic capacity (70.0%). Health facility preparedness in Lafia is fragile, creating high vulnerability to nosocomial transmission and delayed outbreak containment. Institutionalizing routine workforce VHF training, subsidizing emergency diagnostics, and guaranteeing stock-piles of Ribavirin and PPE are critical to building resilient health systems in Nasarawa State.