Upper West Records 4 CSM Deaths In January

The Upper West Region recorded four deaths out of 12 reported cases of suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in January, this year. The region also recorded 51 deaths out of 361 cases within the last two years.

The Regional Deputy Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Kofi Issah, who made this known at a meeting organised by his outfit for representatives from the media and coordinators of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) in Wa, said 31 deaths were recorded out of a total of 195 cases of CSM in 2011, while 20 deaths were also recorded from 166 cases last year.

Dr Issah reiterated the need for residents to drink more water and ensure that their rooms were properly ventilated especially during the dry season.

Touching on the CSM vaccination carried out by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the region in October, last year, Dr Issah said 457,779 out of a targeted population of 510,321 people representing 88.5 per cent of the targeted population between the ages of one and 29 were vaccinated.

He, however cautioned residents not to be complacent but to take extra precaution, since the vaccines were for a specific bacterium which caused the disease.

Dr Issah mentioned the Lawra, Nadowli and Wa East districts as the districts which fell short of the anticipated 90 per cent coverage of the vaccination.

On nutrition, the public health director described the Upper West a; the region with the worst form of nutrition among children in the country. He said much as some significant gains had been made, the high attrition of health staff and poor staff attitude towards nutrition activities, among other challenges, were negating their efforts.