Working with the communities to struggle in opposition to meningitis  

Damaturu, 14 Could, 2024 – For one more yr, Nigeria is going through an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis pressure C. Whereas medical interventions are essential, an equally very important facet of the response lies in grassroots engagement to safeguard the well being of the general public. 

Leveraging this, the World Well being Group (WHO collaborated with Yobe State Authorities to have interaction native management and grassroots participation to drive the group sensitization and consciousness campaigns to comprise the outbreak.

Meningitis is a severe an infection, that results in the irritation of the membrane that encompass and shield the mind and spinal twine. It’s transmitted from person-to-person via droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. In Yobe state, at the least 84 individuals have been killed (as of week 15, 2024) from the continued outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM).

Containing the meningitis outbreak in a protracted humanitarian disaster state like Yobe is vital not just for stopping pointless lack of life but in addition for preserving the well being, well-being, and stability of affected populations and stopping the escalation of the disaster.

 WHO with funding from the US Company for Worldwide Improvement/Bureau for Humanitarian Assist (USAID/BHA) led stakeholder engagement together with non secular, conventional, and group leaders throughout the affected Native Authorities Areas (LGAs). 

Commending the state authorities, WHO and different companions for the sensitization marketing campaign, Hakimi Mai Hassan, the Emirate Focal Particular person on behalf of the Emir of Fika, his Royal Highness and Chairman Council of Chiefs Yobe state, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Abali says, partaking with the group members via the standard/non secular leaders is likely one of the handiest methods to comprise this outbreak of meningitis. 

“I’m glad we’re totally notified and concerned to the brim, and we commend and admire the group for this high-level engagement. We’ll work intently to make sure intensified consciousness.

In his comment , the Mr Abdullahi Danchuwa, the Government Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Service on behalf of the Commissioner for Well being, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana says, efficient group engagement and participation is a non-negotiable method that might proceed to be leveraged in different to curtail this outbreak, and WHO’s management in main companions and different stakeholders to make sure this phase is strengthened may be very commendable. 

“Other than re-strategizing the approaches of group engagement, the WHO has additionally skilled healthcare staff to make sure high quality providers are supplied throughout the affected Native Authorities Areas (LGAs), and we’re sure, in no distant time the outbreak shall be contained.

Moreover, WHO is supporting the state to strengthen the surveillance, laboratory, case administration pillars, in addition to the provisioning of on-the-job mentoring, and harmonization and high quality test for knowledge.

Along with strengthening of the thematic areas, at the least 100 community-recognized energetic case search groups have been skilled and deployed throughout the hotspot areas. That is in-line to accentuate consciousness on prevention of meningitis and enhance early detection/reporting of suspected circumstances from the group. These approaches will complement the hassle of the present native buildings such because the presence of the standard, non secular, and group leaders.

Restating the World Well being Group’s (WHO) dedication because the lead company in worldwide well being response together with in a protracted humanitarian disaster, WHO Northeast Nigeria Interim Emergency Supervisor, Dr Kumshida Yakubu Balami says, most at occasions in an outbreak, communities who’re susceptible to epidemic ailments undergo essentially the most. However, the WHO is continually reviewing/re-strategizing the group engagement method to a extra sustainable and efficient method particularly making certain no susceptible particular person is left behind. 

Dr Balami added that ‘buildings such because the WHO-supported cell hard-to-reach groups have been repurposed and redeployed to make sure underserved populations residing in troublesome areas are reached with fundamental providers together with well being threat messaging.’

Moreover, via the Worldwide Coordinating Group (ICG), WHO facilitated the approval and the provision of 400,825 doses of Men5CV (ACYWX Conjugate Vaccine) for the vaccination marketing campaign. The marketing campaign focused inclined people from 1yr – 29yrs throughout Potiskum and Nangare Native Authorities Areas (LGAs) in Yobe state.