MENINGITIS: FAMILIES COUNT MORE BODIES AS DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 745
OJO TAIWO
More families have lost loved one to meningitis as the death toll increase daily.
According to an updated release by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday stated that meningitis has claimed 745 lives since it outbreak in November.
NCDC said amongst the 8,057 suspected cases reported across the country so far, 7,519 (93 percent) occurred in 5 states.
The five states including Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara have reached the outbreak levels for CSM stereotype C.
However, the NCDC and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said they are working towards containing the outbreak.
The two agencies stated that they have intensified their activities, which includes implementing enhanced surveillance to detect and report new cases, vaccinating populations at the highest risk and treating persons diagnosed with the disease and raising awareness of the outbreak in communities through religious leaders, civil society organizations, health professionals, entertainers and media organizations.
It also stated that in other to enhance the surveillance activities activated in several states they have partnered with NCDC Rapid Response Teams that consists of trained doctors and scientists that provide on-site outbreak investigation and control support to affected state to increased case finding and more timely report.
The NPHCDA has successfully led vaccination in Zamfara and in Katsina targeting persons between ages two to 29 years in the priority council areas in both states.
According to agencies, preparations are ongoing for the next round of vaccination in different wards and local government areas in Sokoto State. Distribution of medicines and other essential commodities to treat persons with meningitis in key affected states is also ongoing.”
The chief Executive Officer of NCDC added that to ensure the citizen are engaged in the response, the agency will continue to employ all proactive means of communication both online and offline.
In a separate statement, Dr. John Oladejo, the Incident Manager of the response group said: “We are grateful to all Rapid Response Team members, including government agency and partner staff who have remained at their different field posts, through the Easter period working on this outbreak response and control.”
