RSG Urges Calm Over Meningitis Epidemic

The Director of Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Nnanna Onyekwere has called on residence of the state not to panic over the cerebrospinal meningitis currently ravaging parts of the country.
In a statement issued by the press officer of the Ministry, Paul Bazia-Nsaneh and made available to The Tide, Onyekwere noted that the state was not  on the danger list of the spread,  assuring that the ministry was taking steps to ensure the control and possible prompt treatment of the disease if noticed.
The Director said “the state epidemology team had met and had placed all health care workers in the state on notice with the aim of tackling the disease head-on, should it be noticed in the state”.
Dr Onyekwere who noted that the outbreak had extended beyond the north, cautioned travellers on the need for self-examination on the symptoms of the disease as well as prompt visit to the nearest health facility for proper diagnosis and treatment.
“There is need for people to avoid crowded and less ventilated areas.   We also need to check ourselves on the symptoms of high fever, headache, pains in the neck and very importantly, avoid self-medication but rather go to any health facility for proper diagnosis and treatment”, he said.
He noted that Nigeria had a long history of meningitis epidemics of the other strains or types, stating that the present type, type C does not have the vaccines but assured that the Federal Ministry of Health is in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to make the vaccines available.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu