Western Region: First case of Pneumococcal Meningitis recorded

• Posted on February 2, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Western Region on Thursday January 28 to recorded it’s first case of Pneumococcal Meningitis specifically in the Bia West District Government Hospital.

In an earlier interview with Skyy Headline News on Thursday, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Western Region Health Director confirmed “the case is currently under keen medical attention and fortunately it has no connection with the cases in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions rather it has been traced to the Ghana- Ivory Coast Border”. The Ag. District Health Director in Bia West, Michael Azuma told Skyy News the patient is said to be an ex-pat from Nyable, a town in Ivory Coast.

He assured the Bia West District and for that matter the Western Region, 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.

According to Dr. Tenkorang, once the protocols and preventive measures put in place are strictly adhered to, the menace can be curbed if not completely eradicated. Relaying to the news team, on some of the measures instituted, the region’s Health Director said “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 minimize this epidemic”.

He also said early diagnosis and report of suspected cases is key to combating the disease. 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 lots of water.

Dr.Tenkorang called on all to be mindful of the disease and take the necessary precautions to minimize its spread.

When asked what measures have been instituted to manage the epidemic, Mr. Azuma said surveillance teams have been formed and equipped to even screen people coming into the country via the Ivory Coast Border.

By: Aba Nuaye Koomson