Meningitis: $1.1bn needed for vaccine as FG warns against overcrowding

To purchase vaccine for immunisation of 22 million people in five states affected by meningitis, the sum of $1.1bn is needed, says Emmanuel Odu, an official of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA).

Odu made this known on Monday when he appeared before the senate committee on primary healthcare and communicable diseases.

“The vaccination of 22 million in the five affected states will cost $1.1bn. The vaccine is expensive, scarce and it takes about a month to be imported into the country,” he said.

He said the country currently had 500,000 doses of the vaccine and that 823,000 were being expected.

Meanwhile, the federal government says there is not enough vaccine for the ‘C’ strain of meningitis.

National coordinator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this while addressing the same committee.

He said the Type C strain of the disease is new to West Africa.

“This disease is associated with overcrowding, particularly in this weather,” he said.

“We cannot tell people not to overcrowd their homes but we are them to make sure their homes are well ventilated, and to observe good personal hygiene.”

Ihekweazu noted that if the disease is detected early, it could be successfully treated.

While lamenting that affected persons often report late, he said the center was collaborating with community and traditional rulers to help persuade their people to go to the hospital immediately they feel symptoms of the disease.

Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi are the states most affected by the meningitis outbreak.