The federal government on Wednesday confirmed a total of 745 deaths have been recorded from the Cerebro Spinal Meningitis currently ravaging some parts of the country.
In a statement sent to BusinessDay, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) said that of the 8,057 detected cases, 7,519 have occurred in the five states that have reached outbreak levels for Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) serotype C.
The statement explained that as at April 17, 2017, 8,057 suspected cases of meningitis have been reported across the country; noting that 230 were laboratory confirmed.
The outbreak, the statement said, currently affects five states— Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), continue to lead the Federal Government’s response to the outbreak, with activities focused on four key outbreak response and control areas.
Part of the awareness strategies, the statement said, include raising awareness of the outbreak in communities, implementing enhanced surveillance to quickly detect and report new cases, vaccinating populations at the highest risk, and treating persons diagnosed with the disease, as well as outbreak preparation in LGAs and states at risk for the outbreak.
Furthermore, to increase awareness of the outbreak and coordinate response across states, the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care convened a meeting of governors and traditional leaders from all Northern Nigerian states.
The meeting, held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies, and international partners focused on strategies to end the outbreak. State governors reaffirmed their commitment to immediate and concrete actions towards halting the outbreak.
The traditional leaders also committed to continued awareness-raising in their communities and jurisdictions. At national level and in affected states, activities aimed at driving information into grassroots —including advocacy meetings with religious leaders, civil society organizations, health professionals, entertainers and media organizations – continue.
Enhanced surveillance activities activated by several states in partnership with NCDC and partners have contributed to increased case finding and more timely reporting. NCDC Rapid Response Teams of trained doctors and scientists continue to provide on-site outbreak investigation and control support to affected states.
The NPHCDA, according to the statement, successfully led vaccination in Zamfara and in Katsina targeting persons between ages 2 – 29 years in the priority LGAs in both states.
Preparations are at advanced stages for the next round of vaccination in priority 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.
HARRISON EDEH
