THE Sokoto State government has confirmed 300 cases of meningitis recorded in some local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr Farouk Abubakar, gave the confirmation at the one day sensitization campaign organised by the State Ward Development Committee (WDC) forum in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency on Friday.
The commissioner was however silent on the number of deaths recorded since February when the outbreak was first reported.
He said that 16 persons were still receiving treatment at the hospitals while the rest had been discharged.
In their separate speeches, Special Adviser on State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muhammad Bello Marnona, and Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Larai Aliyu Tambuwal, commended the foresight of state leadership of the WDC.
They said the disease is preventable and advised people to visit nearby health facility for necessary medication whenever they notice any abnormality.
Also commenting, Chairman of the area, Malam Ya’u Muhammad Danda represented by the vice chairman, Alh Faruk Umar Garba, described the meeting as timely.
In his remarks, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar represented by the District Head of Gagi, Alh Sani Umar Jabbi, lauded Governor Ahmed Aliyu led administration’s commitment toward improving health status of the citizenry.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the WDC Comrade, Bala Gadanga Sokoto, said the sensitisation, which was first of its kind, was organised considering the outbreak of the disease recently recorded in some local government areas of the state.
He mentioned high fever, vomiting and stiffness of the neck as some signs of the disease.
