Dr Benjamin Kumbuor
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12th March, 2010
MOH Stocks CSM Vaccines Every Year
The Minister of Health, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour has said that even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) does not recommend preventive vaccination for Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), his ministry each year procures reasonable quantities of A & C CSM vaccines for the communities at high risk in the three regions in the northern belt.
“This year for instance, the ministry procured and supplied 380,000 doses of A & C vaccines to the three northern regions for prevention,” he said.
The minister was answering a question from Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (NPP-Manhyia) as to what measures his ministry was taking to prevent the perennial deaths caused by cerebrospinal meningitis in the three northern regions.
He explained that, the CSM is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord, caused by a bacteria called Neiseria Meningitides.
Dr. Kumbour said the bacteria have nine sero-groups, namely, A, B, C, D, E29, X, W135, Y, and Z. and resides normally in the nose and throat, but sometimes invades the blood system to cause the disease.
He said CSM spreads by direct contact, including respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons or carriers.
Dr. Kumbour mentioned symptoms of the disease as fever, headache, neck-stiffness, and vomiting, adding that, people should drink enough water, sleep in well ventilated rooms or outside, and avoid overcrowding, because it spreads very fast under such conditions.
He disclosed that, this year’s outbreak of the CSM epidemic was predominantly from the W135 sero-bacteria, which started in one district in the Upper West region before spreading to the rest.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh, on a point of order, asked why the WHO should allow people to die before releasing the W135 vaccines.
The minister said WHO certification is requested before the ampoules of the W135 vaccines are released, adding that, they are released within 48 hours if the disease reaches an epidemic level.
In an answer to another question, Dr. Kumbour said the CSM could not be prevented in the affected regions, so long as their natural climatic conditions (dry weather conditions) remains unaltered.
He said what needed to be done under the circumstances, is to educate the people and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
“This year for instance, the ministry procured and supplied 380,000 doses of A & C vaccines to the three northern regions for prevention,” he said.
The minister was answering a question from Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (NPP-Manhyia) as to what measures his ministry was taking to prevent the perennial deaths caused by cerebrospinal meningitis in the three northern regions.
He explained that, the CSM is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord, caused by a bacteria called Neiseria Meningitides.
Dr. Kumbour said the bacteria have nine sero-groups, namely, A, B, C, D, E29, X, W135, Y, and Z. and resides normally in the nose and throat, but sometimes invades the blood system to cause the disease.
He said CSM spreads by direct contact, including respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons or carriers.
Dr. Kumbour mentioned symptoms of the disease as fever, headache, neck-stiffness, and vomiting, adding that, people should drink enough water, sleep in well ventilated rooms or outside, and avoid overcrowding, because it spreads very fast under such conditions.
He disclosed that, this year’s outbreak of the CSM epidemic was predominantly from the W135 sero-bacteria, which started in one district in the Upper West region before spreading to the rest.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh, on a point of order, asked why the WHO should allow people to die before releasing the W135 vaccines.
The minister said WHO certification is requested before the ampoules of the W135 vaccines are released, adding that, they are released within 48 hours if the disease reaches an epidemic level.
In an answer to another question, Dr. Kumbour said the CSM could not be prevented in the affected regions, so long as their natural climatic conditions (dry weather conditions) remains unaltered.
He said what needed to be done under the circumstances, is to educate the people and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
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