UNICEF donates 1,000 doses of CSM drugs to FCT

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 1,000 doses of drugs to FCT Primary Health Care Development Board for the treatment of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday.

He explained that the drugs had been distributed to all General Hospitals and Teaching Hospital in the territory.

According to him, World Health Organisation (WHO) also donated three stereotyping machines to carry out tests of CSM in FCT.

He told our correspondent that those machines were distributed to Maitama General Hospital, Jabi Medical Centre and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

The secretary urged people living in Abuja to desist from self medication and report when they notice any sign of meningitis to the nearest hospitals.

Mohammed said that so far six persons had died out of 10 suspected cases recorded in Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.

He said that he had exhausted the vaccines given to FCT but awaiting additional stocks from National Primary Health Care Development Agency for the continuation of Immunisation against meningitis.

He said that his board had carried out immunisation in all the 22 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Abuja because of their vulnerability to the disease.

The secretary enjoined residents of FCT not to panic, saying that the government was committed to tackling the spread of CSM in Abuja.