Gombe to begin vaccination against meningitis

In its efforts to prevented the Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) outbreak in Gombe State, the Ministry of Health is to commence the vaccination of children between the ages of One and Six years before the start of the rainy season.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya, told journalists in Gombe yesterday shortly after meeting with the state Committee on Epidemic Rapid Response on health issues, that the focus on that particular age group was because they are the most vulnerable whenever there is an outbreak of such diseases.

He said: “Although we have not recorded any CSM case in the state, but we want to take precautions to curtail the problem, in case it happens,” adding that there have been unconfirmed cases of CSM, but patients were treated even before their samples were taken for test.

Ishaya said as the rainy season approaches, and considering that CSM is associated with winds, and Gombe people travel daily to the northwest, where cases of CSM have been reported: “There is the likelihood of importing the case to Gombe; hence the needs to take measures.