CSM is no longer at pandemic level, spread has slowed – Dr Okoe-Boye

Deputy Health Minister, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye has reported that the outbreak of the Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the five northern regions is no longer at the pandemic level, as was feared to be.

According to him, though a vaccine has not yet been discovered for the strain of CSM, health professionals in the country have chalked quite remarkable achievements in treating the disease.

While presenting a report to parliament after touring the affected areas, Dr Okoe-Boye said the spread in the regions in question have been largely brought under control as they have recorded a drastic slow in the spread.

“Mr. Speaker, I am glad to report that the situation with CSM is under control. A visit to some affected municipalities in the Upper West Region revealed that currently, only four cases of meningitis are being attended to in the region. The disease scale shows that we are no more at the epidemic level. Sustaining this achievement requires continuous education, and that is ongoing,” he said.

Dr. Okoe-Boye further dispelled accusations of neglect, spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo as a reason for losing about 43 persons to the disease.

Dr Rashid Pelpuo in an interview over the week accused government of abandoning people in affected regions and starving health personnel of funds to fight the new strain of the disease. He suggested part of the COVID Fund will be used to treat persons.

He said “It’s like the people have been left on their own facing the challenge themselves and they’re dying and we’re mobilizing money and we’re not using it…We’ve gotten so much money because of COVID why don’t we just apply some in the regions where deaths are occurring?”

But the Deputy Health Minister told Parliament on Thursday, April 30, 2020, that government is giving the affected regions all necessary attention in order to avert further deaths. He maintains that the surest way to slow the spread and also prevent further deaths is reporting early to health professionals.

Out of about 258 recorded CSM cases in the Upper West Region, 43 persons have lost their lives.

In the Upper East Region also, seven persons have died so far. In all over 400 cases have been recorded in the five regions up North.