The Deputy Health Minister Dr Bernard Oko-Boye says the government is fully committed to managing all health conditions and not only COVID-19.
This was after he visted the Upper West Region to ascertain the situation in regards to the outbreak of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM).
The Region has recorded 273 cases with 43 deaths so far. Dr Oko-Boye is in the region and has already met with some major stakeholders to discuss ways of ensuring they halt the spread of the disease.
He says this clearly shows the government is clearly committed to managing all health conditions and not just COVID-19.
“I think this visit is also to ensure we get first-hand information on how the cases are even been recorded. So we will be visiting some health facilities and some elders and chiefs too. We want to know the challenges of the whole issue, the President has said that government has not taken its eye of the ball when it comes to other health conditions, we are dealing with COVID-19 but we have placed equal importance on CSM so we are committed to managing all health condition like COVID-19”.
Dr. Bin Salih the Upper West Regional Minister says the region has over 9,000 vials of ceftrizone and five packs of pastorex to treat the disease and has, therefore, urged people infected with the deadly disease to report to health facilities whenever one begins experiencing headache, fever and stiffness for immediate attention than resorting to self-medication.
He also assured the people not to panic as there are enough drugs to help manage and treat meningitis cases.
Dr Bin Dalih has already stated that there is no vaccine worldwide for sero-type X which is currently affecting the people and they must be proactive in reporting to the health facilities to avoid more deaths.
The spread of CSM has come at a time where Ghana is also battling with the novel coronavirus.