Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has approved the release of N30 million to combat a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in four Local Government Areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Musa Isma’ila, revealed this while speaking to journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
He confirmed the allocation of funds, emphasizing the government’s commitment to containing the disease.
“His Excellency, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, has approved N30 million to procure drugs and other essential consumables for responsive activity aimed at cushioning the effect of the outbreak,” Isma’ila stated.
The affected Local Government Areas include Gwandu, Jega, Aliero, and Argungu, where at least 26 deaths have been recorded.
According to the commissioner, the disease has not been officially confirmed as cerebrospinal meningitis, but symptoms observed among patients raise serious concerns.
“In week seven, we were saddled with the unfortunate situation of an outbreak with a rising number of cases beyond usual, characterized by symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and sensitivity to light,” he explained.
A total of 248 suspected cases have been recorded so far, with 11 samples sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmation. Of the samples tested, two returned negative results, while results for nine others are still pending.
Breaking down the fatalities, Isma’ila revealed that 15 people died in Gwandu, six in Jega, four in Aliero, and one in Argungu.
In addition to the funds released, the government has also distributed drugs and other medical commodities to the affected LGAs.
He further noted that to curb the disease, the state government is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
“We have carried out an advocacy visit to key stakeholders in partnership with WHO, MSF, and UNICEF to strengthen our response efforts,” the commissioner noted.