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A meningitis patient receiving treatment
Two people have been confirmed dead from meningitis in the Volta and Upper West regions of the country.
The death from the Volta Region resulted from the eight suspected cases of meningitis initially recorded in the region, while the Upper West Region has also recorded 13 suspected cases of pneumococcal meningitis in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, out of which one person has died.
Director of Ghana Health Service (GHS) of the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Florence Angsomwini, said the number of cases in the district increased from four to 13 in a week during an annual health review meeting.
Deputy Volta Regional Director of Health in-charge of Public Health, Dr Yaw Ofori-Yeboah, said four other suspected cases have been confirmed positive for meningitis.
Initially, eight people were suspected to have been infected with the disease in six districts, namely Sogakope, Keta, Ketu-North, Krachi-West, Nkwanta South and the latest from Kpando.
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Dr Ofori-Yeboah assured that the surveillance system has been beefed up to be more sensitive, adding that standard operation guidelines have been given to health facilities for the management of potential cases.
He, therefore, assured the public that “there is no cause for alarm” but, stressed the need for strong public support and collaboration with health personnel.
Dr Ofori-Yeboah said the region’s public health management committee had begun a public campaign on the disease to let the public know its symptoms and the need to practise good personal hygiene.
He encouraged the public to send all sick persons to the nearest health facility for early detection and treatment.
The northern part of Ghana is in the meningitis belt in sub-Saharan Africa; however, some districts and communities outside the zone have reported cases in the recent occurrence.
Over180 cases of suspected meningitis have been recorded, with close to 40 people confirmed dead in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Volta, Northern and Upper West regions.
From Fred Duodu, Ho ([email protected])
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