Jigawa Intensifies Campaign Against Meningitis

Jigawa State Government said it has scaled up its campaign against meningitis, measles and other heat-related diseases.

The state’s Epidemiologist, Ismail Muhammad said the state had deployed trained medical personnel to health facilities to enhance the detection and case management of meningitis to stem its spread.

According to him, the state Ministry of Health had embarked on public enlightenment through radio jingles to create awareness of preventive tips for diseases.

Muhammad said that people were being educated on the dangers, symptoms, prevention and management tips of the disease.

He added that people are also being encouraged to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility in the communities.

“The ministry also engaged trained locals known as Ambassadors/Community Key Informants to enhance disease surveillance at the grassroots.

“They were trained on case definition to enable them to report suspected meningitis cases to health workers.

“Also, Disease Surveillance Officers have been activated across the 27 local government areas of the state,” he said, adding that the measure was to avert an outbreak as the hot season sets in.

He said the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had supplied drugs to enhance the treatment of the disease in the state.

“Also, the state government has procured drugs to treat confirmed meningitis cases.

“The ministry directed the management of all the hospitals to use the deferral and exemption system in the treatment of confirmed cases.

“Under this system, we have enough drugs to treat confirmed cases. This means, if a patient has no money to buy the drugs, he will receive it for free.

“And if the patient can afford the drug but not immediately, then he will be treated and pay at a later time,” he said.