Meningitis claims more than 80 lives

Health Minister Alex Segbefia has confirmed to Parliament that 85 people have died through various strains of meningitis, and the recent incidence has stricken 456 people nationwide.

The Brong Ahafo Region has been the hardest hit part of the country, and the disease is raging in various forms: pneumococcal, cerebrospinal and meningococcal.

According to the Minister, the Ministry has intervened with a number of measures, including deploying a team to affected districts in the Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions with funds, antibiotics and technical support.

“Mr Speaker, this week together with the WHO Country representatives, I visited the Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions to assess the situation, provide more funds and 7,500 vials of antibiotics to health workers,” he told Parliament on Thursday.

“I arrived from a tour of the three affected regions namely B/A, Ashanti and Northern Regions last night. I also directed the Ministry of Health mobile vans (onuador) to be redirected to the affected communities to support our interventions.”

According to data from the Ministry of Health, seven of the 10 administrative regions affected by the disease are the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and the Greater Accra Regions.

Mr Segbefia said all regions and districts had been alerted to look for cases for prompt and appropriate management, while there was provision of additional funding to all the 10 regions.

But with special emphasis and appropriate management, he added.

The Minister observed that the Harmattan season this year had been harsh and a contributor to the disease.

He asked for the sustenance of the alert and vigilance and the enhancement of the national preparedness and response.

Contributions from both sides of the House called for more education on the disease, early detection and treatment.

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, or membranes, caused by viral or bacterial infection. It is marked by intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidity.