By Maltiti Sayida Sadick
The Deputy Presidential spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, has emphasized the urgent need for increased public education through the media on the ongoing Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) outbreak that has claimed 14 lives in the Upper West Region of Ghana. In a recent interview on the GTV Breakfast Show, Muslim stressed that more proactive communication efforts were essential to address the fear and confusion surrounding the CSM scare.
The outbreak of CSM, a deadly disease caused by viral or bacterial infections, adds to the existing health crisis of a cholera outbreak that began in October 2024. Muslim called for better preparedness, noting that Ghana should not continue to rely on foreign aid, such as support from USAID, to tackle its health challenges.
“We cannot keep depending on foreign aid to address our health epidemics. It’s time for us to earmark funding and prioritize addressing these issues with the seriousness they deserve,” she stated. The spokesperson also urged the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to focus on mass vaccination drives as a way to curb the spread of CSM, assuring that the government, under the leadership of the newly appointed Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is committed to taking decisive action.
CSM is a recurrent threat in the northern parts of Ghana, particularly during the warm season, when conditions are favorable for its spread. As temperatures rise, the disease claims more lives each year, putting the region’s vulnerable populations at heightened risk.
Harriet Nuamah Agyeman, Country Director for SEND Ghana, also weighed in during the broadcast, expressing concern about Ghana’s readiness to handle such epidemics. She highlighted the toll CSM takes on rural communities, where poverty levels are already high. According to Agyeman, when key family members, such as breadwinners, fall ill, the entire household suffers. She urged the Ministry of Health to take immediate action to prevent further devastation.
“The outbreak of CSM will only deepen poverty in the Upper West Region, especially when it affects those who are already struggling to make ends meet,” Agyeman explained.
With the combined threat of CSM and cholera, both health experts and government officials are calling for a more coordinated and proactive approach to epidemic preparedness in Ghana. The public’s awareness and the government’s commitment to health initiatives are seen as critical steps toward protecting the most vulnerable populations from future health crises.
