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Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Western regional health director, has indicated that the first case of pneumococcal meningitis recorded in the Western Region recently is currently under keen medical attention.
The Western Region on Thursday, January 28, 2016 recorded its first case of pneumococcal meningitis, specifically in the Bia West District Government Hospital in the region.
The meningitis disease which started in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region in December last year has spread to eight regions except Central and Upper East regions.
Speaking in an interview, Dr Tenkorang stressed that the case recorded in the region has no connection with the cases in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, but was traced to the Ghana-Ivory Coast border.
According to Dr Tenkorang, once the preventive measures put in place are strictly adhered to, the menace could be curbed if not completely eradicated.
He stated that “our outfit is strengthening surveillance and creating awareness, but we would like to partner with the media to help in this exercise which we believe will go a long way to help minimise this epidemic.”
Dr Tenkorang mentioned that early diagnosis and report of suspected cases are key to combating the disease.
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According to him, “We are in a meningitis season, temperatures are very hot and this facilitates the spread of the disease.”
He, therefore, advised the general public to reduce overcrowding, avoid close contacts to avoid any untoward effect and drink a lot of water.
Dr Tenkorang called on all to be mindful of the disease and take the necessary precautions to minimise its spread.
Meanwhile, the Acting District Health Director in Bia West, Michael Azuma, has pointed out that the patient hails from Nyable, a town in Ivory Coast.
He also stressed that surveillance teams had been formed and equipped to even screen people coming into the country via the Ivory Coast border.
Dr Azuma assured the people in the district and the region that there is no cause for panic, and that a single case cannot be termed as an outbreak.
“Nonetheless, the health facilities across the region are well equipped to handle pneumococcal meningitis even in the face of an outbreak,” he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
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