26 Suspected cases of CSM recorded in Northern Region
A total of 26 suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) have been recorded in the Northern Region, with six confirmed so far.
Five of the confirmed cases have been successfully treated and discharged, while one patient remains on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
However, no death has been recorded so far.
These came to light when the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, embarked on a familiarisation visit to the Northern Regional Health Directorate and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
The visit afforded him the opportunity to interact with officials and staff to understand their operations and challenges.
As part of the visit, he presented medicines for the treatment of meningitis manufactured by Pharmanova to the Regional Health Directorate to support ongoing efforts in the management of cases.
CSM deaths
Prof. Akoriyea indicated that the region had not recorded any meningitis-related deaths between 2021 and 2024 and commended the health workers for their efforts in containing the disease.
He, however, cautioned the public against becoming complacent, stressing that meningitis remained a persistent threat in the region.
“People should not think that meningitis is over. It still exists and needs continuous awareness and strong collaboration between health professionals and policymakers,” he emphasised.
He also called for strengthened collaboration between the GHS and the TTH, particularly in the area of human resources, to help improve on quality healthcare.
Touching on health workforce challenges, the Director-General of GHS raised concerns over interference in the posting and transfer of health professionals, which he said contributed to understaffing in rural areas.
He said that to address the situation, the GHS would work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure a more transparent and coordinated approach to ensure that underserved communities had access to quality healthcare.
He further urged health professionals to support the fight against drug abuse, which he described as a growing problem that threatened the country’s future.
Commitment
The Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Abdulai Abukari, thanked the Director-General for the visit and reaffirmed the region’s commitment to combating meningitis.
He said the region laid within the meningitis belt, making it vulnerable to outbreaks, especially during the dry season.
“The hard work of our managers, medical superintendents, and all staff has played a major role in curtailing most of the cases,” he said.
Dr Abukari added that the directorate had developed strategies to advocate resources to address funding gaps in the fight against meningitis.