HEALTH OFFICERS WARNS OF POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS IN THE NORTH

The East Mamprusi District Director of Health Services, Mr.. Zac Seidu, has called on the neighbouring West Mamprusi and Gushegu-Karaga Districts to on the alert for any outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) . He said though the District Health Management Team has immunized more than 253 thousand people against CSM in the district, a number of cases are still being reported at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre. Mr.. Seidu made the call at a meeting of District Directors of Health Services in the Northern Region and Heads of Departments at Gambaga. He said the East Mamprusi District lies along the Meningitis belt and also shares boundaries with other countries which lie along the belt. On health programmes in the district, Mr.Seidu said a campaign on iodine deficiency was launched last January, since the district is among those with a large number of goitre cased. The District is soon to embark on Vitamin 'A' Supplementation to a target population. According to him, there are six community feeding centres being operated with assistance from the World Food Programme. Mr.. Seidu disclosed that the Catholic Relief Services in the area is also running a 'FOOD-Assisted Child Survival (FACTS) Programme in three communities, geared towards improving the health of the pre-school child as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. End