Meningitis remains a major public health challenge in Africa – NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Priscilla Ibekwe, reported that meningitis remains a major public health challenge in Africa with 26 States in Nigeria within this belt.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, a thin layer of the connective tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord.
The inflammation can be caused by a variety of organisms’ bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, Injuries and certain drugs can also cause such inflammation.
About 26 countries and 450 million people live in this area, estimates suggest there are over 1.2 million cases that occur globally each year.
Meningitis can be transmitted through direct person to person contact, including droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons during close contact such as coughing, sneezing, smoking and overcrowding.
Dr Priscilla Ibekwe said it is important to everyone to know the symptoms and signs of meningitis.
“The common signs and symptoms are high fever, loss of appetite, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, severe headache, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and convulsions.”
She also encourage people who develop this symptoms to go the hospital to be treated
“We are working with state to ensure that doctors are trained in case management, collecting samples for investigations,” Ibekwe said.
“We are supporting state to develop their preparedness, response plan, having commodities and hospitals having to deal with outbreak if it occurs.
“Nigeria has started their routine immunizations with meningitis A vaccine and we are beginning to see drastic reduction in numbers of people that have been infected by meningitis,” she added.
Ibekwe said that all state should have comprehensive package of care, which includes treatment of the patients, having after care facilities to deal with complications of meningitis.
It is important for the education sector to also have services and facilities to support children as they come back from school also communities to support parents affected by meningitis.
Meningitis can be prevented by avoiding overcrowded places and ensuring adequate ventilation in homes, covering the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose and disposing used tissues promptly into a waste bin.
Immunization is the only rational approach to the control of the disease.
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Kamila/NCDC
