Meningitis: NEMA embarks on sensitisation of traditional rulers

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has embarked on the sensitisation of traditional rulers toward stemming the spread of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM).

Mr Ishaya Chonoko, the Coordinator of the Abuja Zonal Office of the agency, who launched the campaign at Bwari Area Council on Sunday, said the enlightenment was necessitated by the recent outbreak of the epidemic in the area.

He said “because of the outbreak of meningitis in Bwari, we decided to sensitise the people on the need to sleep in ventilated rooms.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that four cases of meningitis were recorded in the area in April.

The palace of the Etsu Bwari, HRH Ibrahim Yaro was filled to capacity by district heads and chiefs, who attended the programme.

Chonoko said that the agency decided to sensitise the traditional rulers because the people would listen to them more and take whatever message they passed to them seriously.

“People listen to their community leaders. You can see the turnout today; it’s just a message by the traditional ruler to the district heads and you can see how they turned out.

“I am very sure that by the time they go back to their various districts and communities, they will be able to sensitise their people,’’ he said.

The coordinator said that the sensitisation campaign was being carried out by NEMA simultaneously in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Earlier, Mr Abubakar Mathawane, the Vice- Chairman of the Council, said the council would do everything possible to check the spread of the disease.

Mathawane said “when one is healthy, every other thing follows and so we will do what we can to stop its spread.”

He pledged the commitment of the government toward ensuring the comfort of the people, stressing that it was only under such condition that development could be achieved.

Also speaking, the Etsu Bwari commended NEMA for the sensitisation campaign and pledged to enlighten his people.

The traditional ruler also called on the government to stock health centres in the area with drugs and staff them adequately.