FG On Meningitis Outbreak:
Death Toll Hits 328
The Federal Ministry of Health has said that 328 deaths
associated with Meningitis have been recorded in the
country since November 2016.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, disclosed this
in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Mrs Boade
Akinola, the Director, Media and Public Relations of the
ministry.
Adewole assured Nigerians that the ministry would curtail
the outbreak of meningitis ravaging some states.
“We have started working with the affected states on
massive awareness and sensitisation, laboratory
investigation and analysis, proper documentation and
disease surveillance techniques.’’
The minister added that 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
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 with additional
800,000 units from the British government .
“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.’’
Adewole added that 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.’’
According to him, Nigeria has always been bedevilled with
the stereotype A of meningitis in years past.
“This new outbreak is from a suspected new strain of the
bacterial disease, Meningitis Stereotype C, of which the
vaccine is not commercially available in required
quantities.
“The vaccine can only be shipped into the country by
WHO only, if laboratory investigation confirms the
existence of the strain type C.
“Government is advocating for prompt diagnosis and
issued directive to all federal medical facilities and PHCs
to treat all cases of meningitis free of charge.’’
The minister 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 clogging together in
unventilated and over-crowded rooms.