Nigeria: Government Moves to Tackle Meningitis, VVF

Zamfara State government has ordered vaccines for cerebra-spinal-meningitis (CSM), worth N23 million, to curb the spread of the disease in the state and awarded N500million contract to combat Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).

Chairman of the state health services management board, Dr Bello Buzu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau, that the state would soon take delivery of the vaccines.

He said another consignment of the CSM vaccines was being expected from the federal ministry of health, for distribution to all general hospitals across the state.

According to him, part of the consignment would be used to vaccinate people and prevent the diseases, while the balance would be kept in the cold store for future use.

“Some of the vaccines will be kept in our cold store and in case of any outbreak, government can dispatch its health personnel to contain the situation,” Buzu said.

On the N500 million contract for construction of a new Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) centre in Gusau, he said when completed, the centre would accommodate 120 patients at a time.

“If things go well, the centre is expected to be completed before the end of this year, in order to supplement the existing one,” he said.

Source: This Day – 27 March 2008