The Federal Ministry of Health has issued public
advisory warning to Nigerians as the number of deaths associated with
cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak has risen to 328 in 90 Local Government Areas
in 16 states including Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Nassarawa,
Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba , Yobe, Kano, Osun, Cross Rivers, Lagos and
Plateau.
Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who
disclosed this in a press statement issued on Saturday, April 1, by Mrs Boade
Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations, said 328 deaths associated with
Meningitis have been recorded since November 2016.Prof Adewole assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health under his purview would nip the outbreak of meningitis ravaging some states in the bud.
He made this assertive conviction about the capability of the Federal government after his ministry issued public advisory warning to Nigerians. He also spoke extensively on efforts employed and deployed so far to curtail the further spread of the epidemic.
"We
have started working with all the affected states in specific areas of
collaboration on massive awareness and sensitization, laboratory investigation
and analysis, proper documentation and disease surveillance techniques through
the National Centre for Disease Control and National Primary Health Care
Development Authority (NPHCDA) who have been of tremendous support since the
outbreak. We are in constant discussion with World Health Organization (WHO),
UNICEF, E-health Africa and other international health agencies for supplies of
vaccines and injections.
"Through
our initiatives, we have secured 500,000 doses of the meningococcal vaccines
from WHO which will be used in Zamfara and Katsina states while additional
800,000 units from the British government by next Tuesday, there will
be a meeting with the International Review Group of The World Health
Organization (WHO) where request for additional vaccines shall be approved, as
part of practical and medically certified efforts to stem this ugly incidence.
"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 to 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. All Nigerians especially residents of Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto,
Niger, Zamfara and Jigawa states are advised to seek early attention when
discomforted with symptoms of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) and avoid
clogging together in unventilated and over-crowded rooms."
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