Meningitis
vaccination. Image credit: communit.com
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The Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board on Thursday confirmed the
death of yet another person due to Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the territory.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Wednesday that the board recorded four
deaths on Tuesday in Durumi area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The
Executive Secretary of the board, Rilwanu Mohammed, told NAN in an interview in
Abuja that another death from the disease occurred in Dakwa, a border village
of Bwari Area Council and Niger state on Wednesday.
“The
four suspected cases we have were all in Durumi I and II in AMAC while one
confirmed case of a child that just happened yesterday (Wednesday) in Dakwa of
Bwari area council.
“The
four that died in Durumi showed all signs of meningitis but there was an
autopsy carried out in the one at Dakwa and was confirmed to be meningitis at
the University of Abuja Teaching hospital, Gwagwalada.
“We
have so far immunized all residents of Durumi that are within the ages of one
year and 29 years and we are going to condone off Dakwa area today (Thursday)
for a similar vaccination,” he said.
According
to him, the board had so far immunized 65,000 residents as against 70,000
targeted for vaccination against meningitis in FCT.
He
said that since the disease broke out in Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states, the
board intensified effort to curtail its spread in the territory.
The
Secretary disclosed that the board focused on Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) and barracks for the vaccination exercise because of their
vulnerability.
Mr.
Mohammed advised residents to avoid crowded places and ensure crossed
ventilation in their homes to prevent the spread of the disease.
More
than 200 people in different states have died from suspected Meningitis in the
last weeks since the outbreak of the disease.
Meanwhile,
Haruna Agwai, the Primary Health Care Coordinator of Kuje Area Council, says
inadequate vaccines is hindering the progress of work at the ongoing immunization of children against meningitis and polio in the area.
Mr.
Agwai made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Kuje during
the immunization of children at the Primary Health Care Centre in the area.
“Inadequate
vaccines, weather condition, inadequate funding, difficult terrain, vehicles
and manpower are slowing down the process of immunization in the area,’’ Mr.
Agwai said.
He
said that in spite the hindrance, “the health workers are vaccinating children
on Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) from the ages 0 to 59 months and meningitis from 1
to 29 years.’’
The
coordinator said the essence of the current exercise was to immunize children
against the recent outbreak of meningitis in some parts of the country.
“We
are vaccinating the children and taking precautions against the outbreak of
meningitis in some parts of the country.’’
He
said about 7,763 children had so far been immunized out of about 17,000
children, representing 40 per cent.
Mr.
Agwai commended some parents for cooperating with health workers for the
progress of the exercise.
According
to him, Kuje Area Council Administration is determined to ensure that children
in the area are healthy.
He
also praised the council’s health personnel,traditional rulers and families for
their support.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the council has 10 electoral wards while some of its communities lack adequate primary healthcare centres.
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