GHS advises public to report symptoms of meningitis
The Director of Public Health Division at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie, has advised the general public to be on alert for any symptoms of meningitis as the harmattan weather has begun in the country.
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Meningitis Prone
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he explained that Ghana had been within the meningitis belt of Africa, which consisted mostly of Western and Eastern African countries, a situation that has made Ghana prone to the meningitis diseases.
He added that the period between October and April was a time when most cases of meningitis were recorded.
It is for this reason that Ghanaians should be on the alert for any flu-like symptoms of meningitis, especially within the three regions of the north, northern parts of the Volta Region and some parts of the Brong Ahafo Region as well.
He also called on the public to report suspected cases of meningitis to health centres on time for early treatment.
The director also advised people to wash their hands regularly and maintain good hygiene.
“They must also avoid congestion and avoid the indiscriminate spread of body fluids from cough or sneeze,” he added.
Proactive measures
As part of proactive measurs to fight meningitis, he said the GHS was embarking on an intensive public education on the disease, especially in the endemic areas of the country.
The GHS has also issued alerts to all health facilities across the country to be on the look out for meningitis cases.
“The director general has sent an alert to all the health facilities through the regional directors and district directors with respect to the need for health staff to be on high alert for meningitis and manage them adequately,” Dr Sakordie said.
According to him, there has also been a stock piling of essential logistics and medication by the GHS across the country. This is also to enable health officials to detect cases of meningitis by carrying out the right tests and implementing the necessary procedures for treating the disease.
“We have never had any problem with the availability of medication in the country,” he stated.
He, however, admitted to sporadic cases of Type ‘C’ and Type ‘W’ strain of meningitis disease in some parts of the country.
“We are doing our best to prevent the disease; those that are of Type ‘A’ have almost been eliminated. Our problem is with the Type ‘C’ and Type ‘W’. We have been having cases all over but none of the districts has reached the alert threshold,” the director further stated.
School health
On improving health conditions in schools against the backdrop of some students dying of meningitis related disease last year, the director said they would establish infirmaries that would be manned by trained health officials in all boarding schools.
According to him, there is also an ongoing consultation with other stakeholders to introduce a health insurance package for students upon enrolment into senior high schools (SHS), while fresh students would also screened.