High CSM mortality rate due to late reporting - Minister

Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister has attributed the high mortality rate of the Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) cases in the region to late reporting.

He said patients often self-manage symptoms out of ignorance till their conditions worsened before they report to the health facilities making treatment difficult.

Dr Bin Salih stated this after he joined hands with Mr Elvis Botah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency to present some items to the District Health Directorate to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Bin Salih appealed to the general public to report early to health facilities when experiencing symptoms of headache, fever, and neck stiffness for early treatment in order to save lives.

He said the health facilities had enough drugs to treat all positive cases, stressing that people must, however, report early to the facilities to ensure early treatment.

Dr Osei Afreh Kuffuor, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Services disclosed that at the end of week 12, the region had recorded 214 cases of meningitis with 33 deaths.

He further disclosed that the region had received some more logistics from Greece to boost the meningitis fight.

Madam Pheobe Balagumyentime, the Nadowli-Kaleo District Director of Health Services also called on the public to stop associating the disease with spirituality and desist from seeking help from spiritualists and report to health facilities early to save their lives.

She said the district was carrying out continued public health education on prevention and early reporting to ensure an appropriate public response.