The Federal Ministry of Health has said that 328 deaths associated with Meningitis have been recorded in the country since November 2016.
This is coming on the heels of the Federal Government initiatives in which 500,000 doses of the meningococcal vaccines which has been secured from WHO and to be used in Zamfara and Katsina states while an additional 800,000 units are been expected from the British government.
According to a statement by the Director Media and Public Relations, Federal Minister of Health (FMOH), Mrs. Boade Akinola, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole assured Nigerians that the ministry would curtail the outbreak of meningitis ravaging some states.
“By next Tuesday, there will be a meeting with the International Review Group of The WHO where request for additional vaccines shall be approved, as part of practical and medically certified efforts to stem this ugly incidence,” he said.
Even with the tunnels of accomplishment made, we are not relenting on all the progress made, as we have been assured of millions of vaccine doses through other notable and international donor agencies.
“Unfortunately, Nigeria had always been bedevilled with the stereotype A in years past but this new strain of the bacterial disease, Meningitis Stereotype C which the vaccine is not commercially available in required quantities and can only be shipped to the country by WHO only if laboratory investigation confirms the existence of the strain type C.
“Our ongoing spirited effort is geared towards upscale through nationwide immunisation campaign while navigating the menace using a combination vaccine by conducting active case finding, strengthening surveillance, case detection, verification and communication management, performing lumbar puncture of suspect cases in a well-coordinated atmosphere under NCDC. “Our partners are already re-training physicians on the effective collection of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis. We are equally advocating for prompt diagnosis and have issued directive to all Federal medical facilities and PHCs to treat all cases of meningitis free of charge.”
Prof Adewole further said: “We have started working with the affected states on massive awareness and sensitisation, laboratory investigation and analysis, proper documentation and disease surveillance techniques.’’
According to him, the ministry through the National Centre for Disease Control and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) had been of tremendous support to the affected states since the outbreak. He said the ministry was in constant discussion with WHO, UNICEF, E-health Africa and other international health agencies for supplies of vaccines and injections.
“By next Tuesday, there will be a meeting with the International Review Group of the WHO, where request for additional vaccines shall be approved, as part of practical and medically certified efforts to stem this ugly incidence.’’
He added that federal government was not relenting on the progress made, “as we have been assured of millions of vaccine doses through other notable and international donor agencies.’’
The minister further urged Nigerians especially residents of Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara and Jigawa states to seek early attention when discomforted with symptoms of Meningitis He also advised Nigerians to avoid banding together in unventilated and overcrowded rooms.
