Ghana has recorded over 120 cases of meningitis, with 16 deaths as of Sunday, February 16, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has told Parliament.
Updating lawmakers on the outbreak on Tuesday, February 18, Mr. Akandoh said the Upper West Region remains the hardest hit, with 29 patients currently receiving treatment.
The most affected districts include Wa Municipal, Nadowli, Wa West, Jirapa, and Nandom.
The Health Minister acknowledged that meningitis outbreaks are common in Ghana’s northern regions due to the country’s location within the “Meningitis Belt” of Africa, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.
He added that the disease is most prevalent during the dry and dusty harmattan season, from October to March.
He explained that two main pathogens—Listeria and Streptococcus pneumoniae—are responsible for meningitis outbreaks in Ghana. While vaccines exist for Listeria, they are ineffective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the strain currently causing the outbreak in the Upper West Region.
In response, the government has deployed a national team of health experts to support regional and district health authorities.
He said treatment for affected patients has been made free, and emergency operations centers have been activated to coordinate the response.
“Additional supplies of antibiotics have been secured, and public awareness campaigns are being intensified to educate the public on symptoms and encourage early treatment.
Community leaders have also been engaged to help spread information, while the World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed experts to assist Ghana in managing the outbreak, the minister stated.
Akandoh noted that these measures are already showing positive results, with a gradual decline in new cases in the Upper West Region.
Source: Graphic
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com
