Meningitis: Ogun step up surveillance in council areas

Following the outbreak of meningitis disease in the Country, which has claimed the lives of more than 300 Nigerians, the Ogun state government has stepped up surveillance across the 20 Local Government and the 37 Local Government Development Council Area (LCDA) to guide against the import of the deadly diseases.

The State Commissioner for health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye who made this known during a chat with Journalists at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta the state capital, said the step was necessary in other to guide against the import of the disease into the state, saying that all borders in the state have been put on red alert.

He said adequate measures have been taken by the state in containing the outbreak of the disease, adding that medical personnel have been trained across the 20 Local Government on signs and symptoms needed to watch out for in detecting the disease.

“Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and it is generally cause by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasite and certain organisms. Medical workers have been trained across the 20 Local Governments to watch out for symptoms to detect the disease while all borders in the state have been put on red alert” Ipaye said.

He called on members of the public to watch out for symptoms such as malaria, headache, fever and stiff neck. Dr.  Ipaye said report should be quickly made to the nearest General Hospital across the state, if any of the above symptoms persist for 3 days without cure, adding that the state Ministry of Health would also embark on massive sensitization on media to further enlighten the public to always be conscious health wise, ensure continuous hand washing and avoid sneezing into open air.