The Wa Municipal Health Directorate says steps are being taken to build the capacities of its frontline health staff to understand and treat the new strain of the Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) that was discovered in the Upper West Region this year.
Wa Municipal recorded 30 cases of CSM earlier this year with five deaths.
Speaking to the GBC, the Wa Municipal Health Director, Dr Pascal Mwin said unlike previous years, the Health Directorate could not undertake a mass vaccination exercise this year because of its unpreparedness.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) is a public health concern in Northern Ghana. This year, a new strain of CSM bacteria known as Neisseria meningitides serotype X and Streptococcus pneumonia was discovered.
It has an average case fatality of 40 percent. There is no known vaccine for the new serotype and so several Health Directorates in the North could not undertake any mass vaccination exercise to manage the disease.
The Wa Municipal Health Director, Dr Pascal Mwin said the Directorate is taking pre-emptive steps to avoid a high case count of CSM next year.
Dr Mwin said the CSM together with the COVID-19 stretched the meager resources of the Health Directorate. He said 30 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Wa Municipality. He said two people out of the number died while the remaining 28 recovered and were discharged. He appealed to the public to continue to adhere to the health protocols to prevent new cases.
Dr Mwin urged the National Health Insurance Authority to fast track the disbursement of funds to the various health facilities in the municipality to enable them to function effectively.
Story filed by Mark Smith.
