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Tag: meningitis

  • Meningitis: Committee in Zamfara lauds NMA, NANNM

    The Committee for the Procurement, Monitoring and Distribution of meningitis vaccines and drugs in Zamfara has commended the intervention of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in tackling meningitis in the state.

    The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abuabakar Muhammad-Gummi, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, gave the commendation while speaking with journalists in Gusau on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government has formed a 10-man committee to replace the one headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi.

    Muhammad-Gummi said NMA had supported the state government with 30 medical doctors.

    He also lauded the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwifery (NANNM) for supporting the committee with 30 nurses.

    “We have recorded various achievements with their support because we are now recording reduction in the number of death arising from and cases of the disease across the state.

    “As we are mandated by the state government to carry out this assignment, the government gave us all necessary support to ensure this work turns out successful.

    “When we took over from the former committee, we solicited the support of all stakeholders, particularly that of the NMA and other partners.

    “We have recorded various achievements from them, especially in the way they assist in training health workers at rural communities on emergency measures of tackling the disease.

    “We are also appreciating the efforts of traditional and religious leaders in increasing public awareness on how to fight the disease,” he said.

    The chairman urged residents to comply with all the pieces of advice given to them by health personnel.

     

  • Meningitis kills 10 in Sokoto LGA – Chairman

    Meningitis has killed no fewer than 10 persons in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State in the last few weeks, its Chairman, Alhaji Jabbi Shagari, had said.

    Shagari said on Tuesday in Sokoto that ”the deaths were recorded out of the several cases that are being treated across the local government”.

    ”Happily however, the epidemic had been brought under control in the area, just like in many other parts of the state,” he added.

    Shagari also commended the state government for donating assorted drugs and medicament worth over N2 million to the local government .

    The chairman said the drugs had helped tremendously in combating the menace, saying ” they were distributed to all the health facilities in the area.

    ” All the victims were treated free with the drugs and this was a formidable factor in combating the epidemic.

    ” I must particularly commend the Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Kakale, for his swift response to the outbreak of the epidemic across the state”.

  • Meningitis: Death toll rises to 33 in Niger

    Meningitis: Death toll rises to 33 in Niger

    Thirty three people have died from the Cerebrol Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Niger state.
    The Executive Director of the Niger state Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPCDA), Dr. Yahaya Na’uzo announced the rise in the number of the death.
    When the disease broke out in the state, only 16 cases were recorded while 116 suspected cases were also recorded.
    According to Dr. Na’uzo, the 33 deaths occurred out of the 116 suspected cases recorded so far.
    He said that out of the 33, nine persons died from the type C meningitis, while the other 24 died of the type A and B meningitis.
    Na’uzo said that although fewer cases are being reported daily, the disease is being contained in Magama, Agwara, Rijau, Kontagora Local government areas adding that the suspected cases in Suleja and Paiko were persons on transit from Sokoto.
    He added that massive sensitization have been embarked upon by the state ministry of health as people are being educated on preventive measures to take.
    Na’uzo said that vaccination would commence immediately the state receives the Type C meningitis vaccines from international communities.
    He said that health personnel have been deployed to rural areas to help contain the spread.

  • Meningitis kills 33 in Niger State

    Thirty-three people have died from the Cerebrol Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Niger state out of 116 suspected cases recorded, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Friday.

    The agency quoting Yahaya Na’uzo, executive director of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPCDA), said nine persons died from the type C meningitis while the remaining 24 died of the type A and B since the outbreak of the disease.

    He said the disease is being contained in Magama, Agwara, Rijau, Kontagora local government areas.

    According to him, the suspected cases in Suleja and Paiko were persons on transit from Sokoto.

    He explained that after the first fatality, the state embarked on sensitisation and awareness campaign to educate the people on preventive measures.

    “We now have fewer cases reported per day because communities have been sensitised to report to the nearest hospital as soon as they suspect any case of meningitis,” he said.

    “People have been educated to quickly report to the nearest hospital once they experience symptoms such as fever, vomiting and stiffness of the neck.

    “With this, more people have been coming and the situation has stabilised as no more high report of confirmed cases.”

    He said vaccination would commence immediately the state receives the Type C meningitis vaccines from international communities.

    He advised people to desist from self-medication and report to hospital when they notice any sign of CSM.

    Nau’zo also advised people to always leave windows and doors open to ensure ventilation in their homes. To avoid the spread of the disease, he urged people to wash their hands always.

    He said that health personnel have been deployed to rural areas to help contain the spread.

    The meningitis outbreak has killed over 438 people across the country over the last few weeks,according to the federal ministry of health.

     

  • Meningitis: AMLSN queries country’s emergency response preparedness

    Meningitis: AMLSN queries country’s emergency response preparedness

    The outbreak of meningitis across the country has called to question the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to response to emergency, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has said.

    AMLSN National President, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem said with the advanced warning that the country should expect averse weather; those concerns ought to have put up a strategy to contain the outbreak.

    He therefore called for the establishment of permanent emergency response team.

    Besides, he said the country needs to focus on research and development with emphasis on indigenous vaccine research and development, which will help resolve issue like Meningitis vaccine shortage as witnessed recently.

    Addressing Journalists in Abuja on the occasion commemorating this year’s World Biomedical Day also called for the establishment of national emergency response team, which should be in place on a permanent basis with the responsibility of reacting to emergency issues.

    This he said will quicken response to emergency and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, which always lead to heavy casualties anytime there is an outbreak.

    He said, “We need to totally address our emergency response strategies even when they have not happened and when they happened we will be able to swing into action without any delay.

    “In emergency response, you need to prepare and it is when you prepare well ahead of emergency that you can respond to emergency. But when you are not prepared for emergency, by the time emergency comes you will be thinking of what to do and in the process of thinking you cause more delay and body harm and more loss of lives.  So the first thing is that our preparedness for emergency must be thorough and once that is done you don’t have to wait until emergency comes before you begin to run around. “The case should be whether there is emergency or not the country must begin to think ahead, what we should do if such a thing happens.

    Then when it happens how do we deploy those things that are expected to be deployed? How do we avoid the process of allowing bureaucracy before responding to the emergency  on ground.

    He therefore advocated for establishment of emergency response team across the three tiers of government, saying “in fact that is how it should be. Not only at the national level, it should be at the zonal level so that one you have national emergency response at zonal basis, you can easily this emergency is in North east, South-South and ask the zonal coordinators to mobilize the health professionals already n ground to respond to it.

    Apart from haven the national response team, there should also be state and local government or senatorial emergency response team in place. So that you don’t need to wait when there is any emergency.”

    Raheem therefore challenged all members of the association to join in the efforts at containing the outbreak of meningitis as it did during Ebola Viral Disease and Lassa Fever.

    On local production of vaccines, he said, “let me also use the medium to call on you all to rise up to the current challenge of cerebrospinal meningitis type C that is claiming lives in our country. Let us see it as a call to duty once again. It is time to improve on public health awareness so that people will know how to prevent the infection. It is also time to update our skills on laboratory diagnosis of all infectious agents so that none escapes our radar and cause havoc to innocent Nigerians. In the midst of it all, let our focus be on research and development with emphasis on indigenous vaccine research and development. This will not only save our country huge foreign exchange but provide homegrown solution to our peculiar health challenges

    He stressed the need for appropriate and faster diagnosis and chemotherapy especially the rational use of antibiotics.”

    AMLSN president who also expressed worries over the mis-use and abuse of antibiotics, which he said could be blamed on poverty, ignorance and weak regulations in the various health practices.

    Speaking on Antibiotic Resistance under the theme Antibiotic Resistance: Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Respond to the Global Threat, Raheem said, “There has been use, mis-use and abuse of antibiotics in our various communities especially in Nigeria. The danger arising from this range from wastage of drugs (antibiotics), development of side effects some of which include damage to organs and systems, development of resistance by the microorganisms, prolonged hospital visits/admissions due to treatment failures and complications,  loss of avoidable man-hours or economically productive hours amongst others. You will agree with us that these are global threats to human health and productivity. The uncontrolled use and misuse of antibiotics in animals’ feeds and poultry has further worsened the menace of antibiotic resistance.

    “Imagine what the outcome of a drug resistant strain in an epidemic outbreak of meningitis and other infectious diseases would be! It is better imagined than experienced. We are already battling with emerging drug resistance in HIV, TB, malaria, diarrhea and other enteric diseases.”

    He also enjoined all members of the association to join in community advocacy as and as well needed priority areas in curbing the spreading menace of antibiotic resistance.

     

  • Nigeria receives 500,000 doses of meningitis vaccine- WHO

    Nigeria has received 500,000 doses of meningitis C vaccine to combat the epidemic in the country, the WHO has said.

    The doses were sent by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, an organisation that coordinates the provision of vaccine during disease outbreak.

    The WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    He said the vaccines, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have been administered in Zamfara and Katsina States where the disease was most endemic.

    Alemu said an additional 820,000 doses of the meningitis C conjugate vaccine donated by the United Kingdom government to WHO was currently being sent to Nigeria.

    He said in the last week, the ICG also sent 341,000 doses of the meningitis C vaccine to Niger Republic.

    He said over 1,300 suspected cases of meningitis had been found in the region particularly in districts that border Nigeria and in the Niamey region of the country.

    NAN

  • Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    The Nigerian Air Force has joined the fight against Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM), advising Enugu communities on how to prevent the epidemic, reports CHRIS OJI

    With no fewer than 489 persons dead and 26 out of the 36 states of the federation hit by cerebro-spinal meningitis or CSM, it is no surprise that the country’s latest epidemic is getting some attention in Enugu State. What catches the eye, though, is the fact military personnel are leading the charge against the disease.

    “So far, 489 deaths have been confirmed in 4,637 cases recorded as of April 10,” said Health Minister Isaac Adewole. “We call on the traditional institutions and leaders to help spread the message that our people must come forward to be vaccinated,” he said.

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken up the challenge. No fewer than 250 residents of Orjiagu-Agbani Community near Enugu have benefitted from its free CSM prevention lecture and medical outreach.

    The medical outreach involved distribution of free insecticide-treated nets to allow residents keep their windows open at night for ventilation as well as for mosquito prevention. Others are free HIV/AIDS test and awareness campaign; blood and sugar levels check; malaria and hepatitis tests; oral and dental test and free drugs.

    The Commander of 155 Base Services Group of NAF, Enugu, Commodore Paul Masiyer, said that the exercise was part of the corporate social responsibility of the Air Force to their host communities.

    Masiyer said that the exercise was focused on CSM due to its devastating impact in some parts of the country.

    He said that NAF had to get more insecticide-treated nets as an inducement to make the residents see the need to sleep in a well-ventilated and mosquito free area by keeping their windows open always.

    The commander said that the exercise was in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for all NAF formations to know and interact in a cordial manner with their host and other communities in their domain.

    “So, the medical outreach is NAF’s way to show appreciation as well as identify with our host communities, neighbours and the general public in order to shoulder their health responsibility.

    “Through this, we are building a long lasting bond between the NAF and communities in Enugu State, which is our host state and community,’’ he said.

    He said that services provided during the medical outreach were free while some other light but prolonged cases would be referred to the 155 Base Services Group Medical Centre, Enugu.

    Earlier, the Commandant of Nigeria Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Group Captain Musa Aileru, said that the teachers of the school and NAF medical team had embarked on the CSM lectures to alert the community and prevent it in the community and state.

    Aileru noted that NAF had benefited from the peaceful disposition of the community as the host of its comprehensive school.

    Responding, the Traditional Ruler of Orjiagu-Agbani Community, Igwe Sampson Nnamani, lauded the NAF for the medical outreach.

    “The Nigerian Air Force had been so nice to this community and we have no cause to regret having them as our neighbours,

    “The community will continue to pray for positive things to continue to happen to the Nigerian Air Force and his personnel for this wonderful gesture,’’ Nnamani said.

    A beneficiary of the outreach, Ma Veronica Onyia, thanked the NAF medical team for the free drugs and mosquito treated net given to her.

    “For over three months, I have been lying in my bed sick without anyone to come to my rescue. But today, I have been given free drugs, mosquito treated nets to allow opening of my windows and more air.

    “I am the most grateful and touched by this free medical outreach,” Onyia said.

  • Meningitis: Minister, WHO warn Zamfara, other Northeast states

    Meningitis: Minister, WHO warn Zamfara, other Northeast states

    •$1b needed to vaccinate 21m •Disease kills 489 in five states

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has called on the Zamfara State Governor Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari to sanction those selling vaccines and life-saving drugs provided by the Federal Government for free.
    Also yesterday, northern traditional leaders and governors moved to tame the outbreak in some parts of the region, as they held an emergency meeting in Kaduna.
    Adewole, who spoke on the occasion, said $1 billion was required to vaccinate 21 million people in five meningitis endemic states.
    He added that the outbreak has killed 489 persons in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kabbi, Niger and Katsina states.
    According to him, 4,637 suspected cases have been recorded.
    The minister said: “Meningitis vaccination is very expensive. To effectively stop meningitis in Nigeria, we need to vaccinate 21 million people in the five states, which will cost about $1 billion. We need Immunity Trust Fund to cater for immunisation. We need to put more money in health to build robust health system that is resilient. Nigeria would need to put more money on vaccine. Nigerian vaccine has been subsidised by Gavi. But in 2015, we said we are the largest economy in Africa, which means we can stand on our own. So, by 2025, Nigeria will need to fund its vaccines by itself.
    “The state governments also need to put in more money on health. We want the state governments to support us to revitalise the PHC for every political ward to have at least one PHC. We need to put people there, community health extension workers, and to invest in routine immunisation.
    “About seven million births are recorded annually. If we vaccinate all of them, we would protect them from meningitis and other diseases.”
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) also blamed the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of the country, particularly Zamfara State, on lack of robust surveillance.
    The global health body said the Zamfara outbreak was avoidable.
    The health minister warned the Zamfara State governor that some people were selling the drugs sent by the Federal Government for the treatment of meningitis. “We must apprehend them,” he said.
    Adewole, who spoke while visiting the state, called on the Yari to focus on strengthening the Primary Health Centre (PHC) system.
    “Once the PHC system is in place, we can tackle not just this outbreak but 70 to 80 per cent of the cases of our people,” he said.
    Adewole said any single case could have been easily reported at the PHC level and a response would have been activated and this scale of the outbreak would have been avoided.
    “Next year dry season is coming again. We need to make sure that we are prepared to tackle the next outbreak,” he reminded.
    WHO also yesterday blamed the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of the country, particularly Zamfara State, on lack of robust surveillance.
    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) warned against the spread of the outbreak to the Northeast, which it said is already suffering from malnutrition.
    The development partners spoke in Kaduna yesterday at the Emergency Meeting of northern traditional rulers and leaders.
    WHO Country Representative, Wondimagegnehu Alemu said Nigeria, henceforth, needed to spend more and invest on outbreak investigation and detection, particularly in rolling out robust surveillance system.
    He said 500 cases of meningitis discovered sometimes last year in Zamfara would have been avoided, if there was a robust surveillance system.
    In his goodwill message, UNICEF County Representative, Mohammed Fall, said children in the Northeast were already facing the burden of malnutrition and the consequences of devastating conflicts. He warned that penetration of meningitis in the region would increase the burden.
    Making presentation on the disease, the National Coordinator of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the outbreak started in Zamfara State in November, but they were only notified on February 7, and they deployed along with other stakeholders a week later.
    “No fewer than 489 deaths have been recorded in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kabbi, Niger and Katsina State. And 4,637 suspected cases of meningitis have also been recorded”, said Dr. Ihekweazu.
    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal described the meningitis as a dangerous epidemic, saying that his state had recorded over 1000 cases so far.
    According to him, ‘In Sokoto state, we had cases in about seven local governments. We had over 1000 cases reported and the state government had to mobilised with traditional leaders in the state and other stakeholders, particularly our development partners.
    “We had a collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, we received over 20,000 vaccines from the ministry and we are expecting about 800,000 more vaccines, our target is to have 2 million vaccines for vaccinations to cover most of the areas.
    “We have mobilised a team led by the Commissioner of Health. We have had challenges of drugs and challenges of health personnel as well”, he said.
    Also, Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai said it was a matter of great sadness for governors to see the number of deaths recorded in their states due to meningitis.
    He lamented that the North West zone has been battling meningitis epidemic for the past two months, saying it was a type of meningitis that health care professionals in their states were not conversant with, the type C meningitis.

  • Zamfara meningitis outbreak avoidable, says WHO

    Zamfara meningitis outbreak avoidable, says WHO

    •UNICEF warns against spread to Northeast

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has blamed the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of Nigeria, particularly Zamfara State, on lack of robust surveillance, saying the Zamfara outbreak was avoidable.
    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has also warned against a spread of the disease to the Northeast, which it said is already suffering malnutrition.
    The development partners spoke yesterday in Kaduna State at an emergency meeting of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on primary health care delivery and some northern governors on Cerebrospinal Meningitis outbreak.
    According to the Country Representative of WHO, Wondimagegnehu Alemu, Nigeria should invest on outbreak investigation and detection, particularly in rolling out robust surveillance system.
    He said 500 cases of meningitis discovered last year in Zamfara State would have been avoided if there was a robust surveillance system.
    His words: “We really appreciate the timely response of the Federal Government’s team to this outbreak and the opportunity to work with the government.
    “We value the critical role of traditional leaders in promoting health, preventing diseases and encouraging compliance of people affected by the disease. It is often said health is wealth and none of you likes to see or have sick people. It is from that perspective I see committed leaders, officially elected, as well as traditional leaders, standing for their people.
    “I won’t go into the details, but in the past, meningitis type A was the one that ravaged most of these areas. Since you have successfully conducted the preventive vaccination, it has now shifted.
    “The current type C is a new one. It has never been known to cause this magnitude of outbreak; it used to be only sporadic cases. So, that has left us with no option than to rely on few of the tools that we have, including few vaccines that are available at global level, through the strategy contingency plan. The government has applied for, received and judiciously distributed to the affected places, and the vaccination has taken place. More is coming.
    Representative of the Department for International Development (DFID) Salma Kolo blamed the outbreak on weak health system in Northern Nigeria. He called on leaders of the region to increase efforts to fix the health system.
    She said: “The government of United Kingdom is concerned about the outbreak of meningitis in Northern Nigeria, just like it is concerned about maternal and new born mortality.
    “The United Kingdom government had sent its contribution of 800,000 doses of meningitis vaccines through WHO and that has been acknowledged and it is already being utilised.”
    UNICEF hails Army for releasing Boko Haram suspects
    By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha
    The United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the Army for releasing about 600 suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
    It said the Army’s action was a major step towards protecting children affected by the insurgency.
    A statement by WHO said: “It provides hope in a conflict that continues to have an enormous impact on people’s lives. These children were held under administrative custody, on alleged association with Boko Haram militants. They are victims of the conflict and it is crucial they receive medical care, psychosocial support and other basic services that will help them to regain their dignity.
    “Once that process of recovery has started, we can help them return to their families, school or learn new skills that will give them hope for the future.”
    UNICEF maintained that it will continue to work with relevant authorities to access children who are held for screening in order to safeguard their care and protection.
    “When military screening is needed, children should only be held as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible, in accordance with national and international standards. These children are first victims of the conflict and require support to recover from their experiences and reintegrate with their families and communities,” the statement added.

  • Tambuwal, El-Rufa’i renew commitment to tackle Meningitis

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday pledged total support to end the spread of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    The two governors made the commitment during an emergency meeting with members of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care, in Kaduna.

    Rufa’i expressed sadness over the recorded number of deaths across the country, saying the state has recorded 17 cases in 11 local government areas from January to date.

    According to him, only one confirmed case of type C meningitis and one death were recorded in the state.

    “The State Government have intensified surveillance and engage the media on public enlightenment on meningitis.

    “While repositioning appropriate medicine and medical supply in our hospitals for free, active case management of suspected meningitis and prevention is going on.

    “We acknowledge the role of the World Health Organization in providing technical and logistic support and also thank the Federal Government for its quick intervention in the fight against the disease,’’ he said.

    He noted that early awareness and intervention has slowed down the spread of the disease.

    “We hope that the royal fathers will take up the battle like that of polio to curtail further spread.

    “We are confident that same success will be achieved and prevent future reoccurrence,’’ el-Rufa’i added.

    On his part, Tambuwal said Sokoto state had developed active  collaboration with traditional leaders to address various health challenges.

    According to him, the state have recorded no fewer than 1000 cases in seven local governments.

    “The state government and traditional leaders are collaborating to create awareness on how to increase ventilation and decongest homes.

    “The Federal Ministry of Health has supported the state with over 20,000 doses of vaccines, but our target is to have two million vaccines for those eligible to receive the vaccination,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), Dr Salma Kolo expressed the organisation’s concern over the CSM spread.

    According to her, since the outbreak of the epidemic, DFID has contributed 800,000 doses of vaccines through WHO.

    “It is part of our activities to ensure that cases of meningitis were treated using all available resource within our limit to support government and use existing platform to create awareness.

    “I want to appeal to state governors to put more effort in strengthening the health sector, especially the PHC

    “We in Northern Nigeria are not privileged, especially the vulnerable groups who are mainly women and children that are jobless and have no access to fund. Their care must be provided free,’’ she said.