Niger Distributes Over 41,000 Doses Of Meningitis Drugs After Recording 123 Cases

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By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna

Director, Public Health, Niger State Ministry of Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Mohammed Usman has disclosed that the state government has procured and distributed free drugs for the treatment and control of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, (CSM).
Over 41,000 doses of preventive tablets and other assorted drugs were among the cocktails of drugs distributed free to persons against the dreaded disease.
The disease is prevalent in twelve of the twenty five local government areas of the state with Magama having the highest death toll of thirty one deaths out of the thirty three persons that have so far been killed by the disease since the outbreak of the disease in the state in February this year.
As at last Friday, the state according to Dr. Usman had received 123 reported cases of the disease in twelve council areas even as spirited efforts, including public awareness are being stepped up to educate citizens about the disease, it’s symptoms and how to prevent it.
The Director, Public Health confirmed that the state government has released =N=39 million for the purchase of medicament and for the purpose of awareness campaign so that the spread of the disease could be checkmated.
He disclosed that the federal government has sent health officials to the state and particularly to the vulnerable council areas where the disease was wide spread to help in curbing it.
The health officials along with those mobilised from the state Ministry of Health and hospitals across the state are on special assignment to such disease proned areas to curb the spread of the disease.
Dr. Usman said the fight against the disease comprehensive with emphasis on personal hygiene and decongestion of crowded places of sleep and long hours of interactions to make room for free air passage and ventilation.
He said ongoing efforts were to stem the spread of the disease via public education, distribution of the free drugs and deployment of health personnel to treat cases of the disease.
Dr. Usman appealed to members of the public to quickly report any suspected symptoms of the disease to the nearest health centre to them just as he reminded citizens to ensure proper ventilation in their homes at both day and nights during sleep.

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