Afrigather Yobe, 20 March 2024 – Within the wake of a regarding Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) outbreak in Yobe State, Nigeria, the World Well being Group (WHO) has swiftly mobilized its technical experience to help native well being authorities in containing the unfold of the illness.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis, probably deadly sickness characterised by irritation of the membranes surrounding the mind and spinal twine, poses a major public well being risk, notably in a state already coping with the illness alongside a protracted humanitarian disaster.
Recognizing the urgency of the state of affairs, WHO has stepped in to supply important help and steerage by deploying 107 Northeast Humanitarian Well being Emergency Specialists and Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) Officers to Yobe state to help the well being authorities on the bottom to mitigate the impression of the outbreak.
In his comment, the State Ministry of Well being, the Commissioner for Well being, Yobe state, Dr Lawan Muhammad Gana, appreciated WHO for its management because the lead company for well being and its position in coordinating the response to containing the outbreak.
“WHO’s deployment of the group of consultants to help the native well being authorities’ response to the CSM outbreak is well timed and far wanted. With the extent of expertise hand current within the state, we’re optimistic in no distant future, we’ll comprise the outbreak and presumably avert future occurrences. We’ll work collectively and guarantee issues are performed otherwise to comprise the outbreak, thereby saving the lives of the state’s most susceptible and affected individuals.” Stated Dr Gana.
As of a current replace, the Yobe state has reported about 1,186 suspected circumstances, 60 confirmed circumstances, and 38 deaths in Potiskum, Nangere, Fune, Fika, Gujba, Damaturu, Gulani, and Machina Native Authorities Areas.
The WHO specialised group is collaborating with native well being authorities and bolster their efforts in illness surveillance, analysis, and response methods. WHO has initiated an Incident Administration System (together with Coordination, Well being Data, Threat Evaluation, Case Administration, Laboratory, Vaccination, Logistics, and Threat Communication and Group Engagement) on the Yobe State Public Well being Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).
As well as, WHO has facilitated the approval and provision of 587,870 doses of Men5CV (ACYWX conjugate vaccine) from the Worldwide Coordinating Group (ICG). The vaccine will goal prone individuals aged 1-29 in Potiskum, Nangare and Fika LGAs.
“WHO because the lead United Nation’s (UN) well being company, will work collaboratively with the well being authorities within the Federal and State Ministries of Well being to make sure efficient coordination of companions to comprise the CSM and different ailments outbreaks in addition to help in sustaining entry to main healthcare providers, mentioned Dr Aurelien Pekezou Tchoffo, WHO Nigeria Officer in Cost.
“Because of funding from the European Civil Safety and Humanitarian Help Operations (ECHO) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Help (BHA), WHO will work carefully with the Ministry of Well being to enhance coordination amongst companions, conduct an in depth investigation of the outbreak, improve the abilities of frontline healthcare staff, present on-the-job mentorship, improvement of vaccination micro-plan, present medical consumables and enhance entry to main healthcare providers, together with these residing in underserved areas and hard-to-reach areas, mentioned Dr Kumshida Yakubu Balami, the interim WHO Northeast Emergency Supervisor.
