The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region has warned that Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) should not be managed at home or in pharmacy shops.
The Service advised the public to seek proper healthcare for meningitis and all other ailments at recognized, accredited facilities rather than at pharmacies or over-the-counter medicine shops.
“CSM or meningitis is a serious disease. It is not treated at home, in a chemical shop, or a pharmacy. It is treated in a hospital,” stated the GHS through its Acting Deputy Director of Public Health (DDPH), Dr Adam Zakariah, during a media interview in Bolgatanga.
He emphasized that hospitals possess the necessary healthcare professionals to examine patients, conduct laboratory investigations, diagnose conditions, and prescribe appropriate treatments.
“Meningitis must be treated and is treated in the hospital,” the Acting DDPH insisted.
Dr Zakariah indicated that the GHS has a policy ensuring meningitis treatment begins at the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.
“When a patient is seen at a CHPS compound and the nurse suspects meningitis, he or she is expected to assess the distance between the compound and the nearest hospital.
“If the distance is significant, we have advised that they start treatment before referring the patient. If the patient is already at a hospital, they are admitted and treated immediately,” he said.
The Acting DDPH noted that a group of bacterial strains namely: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae, caused the epidemic-prone disease, which affects a large proportion of the global population.
He noted that Neisseria meningitidis was the most common cause of outbreaks, recalling that Ghana previously conducted mass vaccinations against this strain.
“Later, in 2012, we began vaccinating against Streptococcus pneumoniae, another major cause of meningitis. Since then, we have been providing children with vaccines against that particular strain,” he added.
He urged residents to seek early treatment for all ailments, stay in well-ventilated environments, and maintain high fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
Addressing Muslims observing Ramadan, Dr Zakariah urged those with conditions such as peptic ulcer disease or diabetes, as well as expectant and breastfeeding mothers, to refrain from fasting due to the risk of complications.
For those who were healthy and chose to fast, he advised them to reduce strenuous activities and ensure they stayed in cool environments to avoid fluid loss.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | PR Unit, Ghana Health Service | Bolgatanga
