The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, has issued an earnest plea for heightened vigilance among Nigerians to combat the looming threat of meningitis.
Stressing the urgency of vigilance against meningitis threat, Aina said it is critical to emphasize the importance of vaccination and early detection of symptoms in averting the potentially fatal consequences of this infectious disease.
Speaking from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Aina said the severity of meningitis, characterizing it as a formidable and life-threatening infection.
With meningitis posing a significant public health concern, Aina urged citizens across the nation to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their health against this insidious threat.
“It is a serious infection that can cause inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
“The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion,” he said.
The NPHCDA executive director said that Nigerians should be very vigilant to ensure early detection and treatment.
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“It is also very important to get vaccinated against meningitis. It can be life-threatening.
“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent meningitis, it can help to protect individuals from the disease,” he said.
He said that getting vaccinated and ensuring early detection of the symptoms would protect Nigerians from the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), skipping vaccinations is one of the major risk factors for meningitis.
The WHO also says that most cases of viral meningitis occur in children under age five, while bacterial meningitis is common in individuals under age 20.
