On Wednesday, 38 people were confirmed dead by the Jigawa State Ministry of Health in an outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) in the state. The state Commissioner of Health, through the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr. Salisu Muazu, said the disease has been recorded in seven local government areas of the state that share borders with the Niger Republic.
It is instructive to note that Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had said that the country recorded 961 suspected cases and 56 deaths traceable to CSM in 32 States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) across 159 Local Government Areas in 2022.
Indeed, the recent outbreak of meningitis in Jigawa state, is a tragic reminder of the importance of preventive healthcare in the country. The outbreak, which has also affected several other states in Nigeria, highlights the urgent need for the government to take action to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.
It is pertinent to note that meningitis is a serious disease that can be fatal if not treated promptly. It is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, and it can cause severe inflammation, which can lead to brain damage or, in severe cases, death.
The disease is highly contagious and can spread rapidly from person to person through close contact or the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions.
The outbreak in Jigawa state has already claimed several lives and has left many others in critical condition. The state government has taken some measures to contain the spread of the disease, including the distribution of vaccines and the establishment of isolation centers, but these efforts have not been enough to stop the outbreak from spreading to other states.
In the considered opinion of this newspaper, the federal government ought to take a more proactive approach to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease. This includes increasing public awareness of the ailment and its symptoms, providing access to vaccines, and establishing more effective mechanisms for detecting and treating cases of meningitis.
First and foremost, the government must take steps to increase public awareness of meningitis and its symptoms. Many people in Nigeria are not familiar with the disease or its symptoms, which can make it difficult to detect cases and prevent the disease from spreading. The government should launch an extensive public education campaign to raise awareness of the disease. Its symptoms, include high fever, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light.
In addition to education, the government must also provide access to vaccines to prevent the further spread of the disease. Vaccines are an effective way to prevent the spread of meningitis and can be administered to people who are at high risk of contracting the disease, including children, college students, and people with weakened immune systems. The government should work with health organisations and international partners to provide vaccines to those who need them.
Therefore, the government must establish more effective mechanisms for detecting and treating cases of meningitis. The health authorities should, as a matter of urgency, set up a system for monitoring the disease and identifying outbreaks, as well as establishing protocols for treating patients who are diagnosed with meningitis. The government should work with healthcare providers and hospitals to ensure that patients receive prompt and effective treatment. The provision of antibiotics and supportive care, in our view, will go a long way to remedy the health challenge.
The outbreak of meningitis in Jigawa state should serve as a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to take action to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. It is imperative for the government to adopt a preventive approach through an increased public awareness of meningitis, provision of access to vaccines, and establishing more effective mechanisms for detecting and treating cases of the disease.
In addition to these measures, the government should also work to improve the overall state of healthcare in Nigeria. The country faces significant challenges in providing access to basic healthcare services, including adequate staffing, infrastructure, and funding. The government should prioritize healthcare funding and work to build a strong infrastructure in this sector that can provide quality care to all Nigerians.
Needless to say, the outbreak of meningitis in Jigawa state is a tragedy that must be addressed with urgency by the federal government. The government must take action to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease.
As the nation battles with other health challenges, it will be a disaster if an ailment as dangerous as meningitis is inadvertently added in the mix. What this implies is that the earlier the government applies measures to control the outbreak in one state, in this case, Jigawa, the better for the nation as a whole.
