NMA raises alarm over possible outbreak of Meningitis in Kogi

Following the discovery of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, CSM, which has so far claimed more than 330 lives in the country this year, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA Kogi State Chapter has raised alarm over possible spread of the killer disease to Kogi State if urgent measures are not put in place to avert it.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the Kogi State Acting Chairman of NMA, Dr. Godwin Tijani stated this in Lokoja while reacting to reports of meningitis incidents in Abuja, the Federal capital territory.

Dr. Tijani who observed that the disease is usually common within the month of December and June when the weather condition is harsh, admonished Kogites to avoid sleeping in overcrowded condition as well as to maintain a ventilated environment to avert the outbreak of the disease.

While affirming that the state has not recorded any case of Type ‘C’ Cerebrospinal meningitis, currently affecting some parts of the country, Dr. Tijani charged the state government, stakeholders and the general public to be proactive as regard the outbreak of the disease.

"As I speak to you, meningitis is a big threat to Kogi State now that it has been reported in Abuja. Being a transit state, we are at a great risk since we can't control the influx of people passing the state to neighbouring areas. It will be very difficult to identify any one carrying the causative agent"

According to him, meningitis is caused by virus, several bacterial such as, Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, also called Hib, and Listeria monocytogenes.

The NMA Chairman urged the public to report to the nearest health centre if any person is sited with the symptom of Fever, persistent headache, Neck stiffness and pain that makes it difficult to touch his chin to his chest, Nausea and vomiting, Confusion and disorientation (acting "goofy")Drowsiness or sluggishness, and Sensitivity to bright light.

He used the medium to appeal to electricity distributors to help avert the outbreak of meningitis in Kogi State, noting that when there is power supply for people to sleep in their homes, there will be less heat and it will help to improve the conditions of the people.

“Abuja electricity Distribution Company has a role to play in curtailing this outbreak. It will do more harm than good if at this harsh weather condition, consumers fail to sleep with electricity. Most of the cases of meningitis reported today are traceable to excessive heat which is not good for the body", he asserted.

It would be recalled that as at April 3, 2017, a total of 2,997 suspected cases of CSM have been reported in 16 States in Nigeria, of which 146 have been laboratory- confirmed and   336 people confirmed dead.

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