The Bolgatanga Municipality has recorded two suspected meningitis-related deaths, raising concerns about the dangers of self-medication and delayed hospital visits.
Stephen Bordotsiah, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Service, confirmed the fatalities during the 2024 Annual Health Review Meeting held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. He explained that the two deaths occurred over the weekend at the Upper East Regional Hospital.
“We have recorded about five cases at the hospital, with two deaths. We cannot say for certain the strain of meningitis. That is being checked at the Navrongo Research Center, so samples have been taken, and we are waiting for the results,” Bordotsiah stated.
According to him, the cases are spread across different districts, with one originating from Bolga East, another from Bawku West—referred to the regional hospital—and one from within the Bolgatanga township.
Bordotsiah expressed deep concern over the increasing practice of self-medication, which often results in worsened conditions before patients seek proper medical care. “We are worried about how self-medication and delayed reporting to health facilities can lead to fatalities,” he cautioned.
Meningitis, a potentially fatal infection affecting the brain and spinal cord, is prevalent in the northern regions of Ghana, particularly during the dry Harmattan season. The disease spreads through respiratory droplets, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial in preventing severe complications and death.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate is urging residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as severe headaches, fever, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light.
Health officials also emphasized the importance of vaccination, good hygiene, and reducing overcrowding to curb the spread of the disease.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
