Meningitis: 2m Katsina people at risk – UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said an estimated 2 million people in Katsina state are at risk of Meningitis.

The UNICEF Country Representatives, Peter Hawkins, disclosed this at the launching of Maternal, New Born, Child Health week in Katsina

Hawkins, who was represented by Oluniyi Oyedokun from UNICEF Kano field office, said “in 2018, there were 1,321 cases of meningitis across the 34 local government areas of the state.”

He said meningitis is an extremely distressing disease that causes significant loss of life especially in countries located within what is called ‘the meningitis belt’ which consists of almost all the states in Nigeria including Katsina.

“As we mark the formal launch of the introduction of meningitis A vaccines into the national routine immunization schedule, I would also like to use this medium to emphasise on the need to continue to sensitize everyone in the state on the importance of routine immunization in preventing their children against common childhood killer diseases,” he said

He added: “UNICEF alongside other development partners supported Katsina state in ensuring that all Routine Immunisation-providing frontline health workers have received the requisite training that will enable them administer this vaccine safely together alongside other vaccines.

“UNICEF is also supporting the state in communicating to care givers the risk of meningitis and the importance of meningitis A vaccination.”