NEMA alerts on meningitis

Written by Daily Trust Friday, 12 March 2010

ShareThe National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has raised alarm over the spread of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) urging Nigerians to adhere to precautionary measures to avoid its spread.

The North-West coordinator of the agency Alhaji Mustapha Suleiman said in Kaduna yesterday that cases of CSM had been recorded in three states in the zone.

“Various cases have so far been reported in Jigawa, Sokoto and Kaduna States of outbreaks of CSM and Cholera with varying degrees of fatality, though in low extent but requiring appropriate enlightenment measures’’, he said.

He urged relevant stakeholders to facilitate the enough awareness among the populace on the need for personal and environmental hygiene, avoidance of over-congestion, proper ventilation and other  practices that are germane to prevention of the menace.

He reiterated the readiness of the agency to partner with any state government to organize sensitization programmes in affected areas.

“In the North West zone, we are aware of efforts by the state governments to provide necessary vaccines and relevant drugs at the most vulnerable areas. So also local health monitoring and evaluation officers have been vigilant in ensuring the continuous surveillance and prompt/early reporting of any outbreak to the relevant authorities. This is commendable but sensitization of communities with a view to achieving prevention should be paid due attention,’’ he added.

According to him, epidemics and communicable diseases constitute a major source of emergency in Nigeria, especially in the North West zone. Death from diseases like Cholera, Measles, Lassa and Yellow Fever are in hundreds every year and this poses a threat to lives more than any other disaster, he said.