Health authorities in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu say they have intensified vaccination against meningitis and other heat-related illnesses amid rising temperatures and concerns about possible outbreaks.
The authorities made the statements in separate interviews with reporters. They urged residents to stay in shaded, well-ventilated places and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes, called meninges, surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is a serious condition that can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms include fever, cold hands and feet, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light (photophobia), confusion, nausea, vomiting, muscle or joint pain, and a purple rash. In children, signs may also include irritability, poor feeding, sleepiness or difficulty waking.
In Anambra, Dr Chizoba Ezeasor, Executive Secretary of the Anambra Primary Healthcare Development Agency (APHCDA), urged parents and caregivers to bring their children for vaccination against diseases, including meningitis.
Ezeasor said meningitis was preventable and that vaccination remained one of the most effective ways to protect children and communities.
She said APHCDA provided routine childhood vaccinations through primary health care centres across Anambra’s 21 local government areas.
The executive secretary urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children received all vaccines in line with the national immunisation schedule.
“In Anambra, the meningitis vaccine is included in the routine childhood vaccination schedule at nine months, alongside measles and yellow fever vaccines, among others.
“We also advise parents and caregivers to ensure children drink enough clean water throughout the day during hot weather. Breastfeeding mothers should breastfeed infants frequently and avoid exposing children to direct sunlight, particularly from late morning to afternoon.
“We must keep homes and classrooms properly ventilated and never leave children unattended in parked vehicles,” she said.
Prof. Chukwudi Okani, a lecturer at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Medical College in Anambra, said heat-related illnesses included dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, worsening asthma and meningitis.
Okani, a histopathologist, noted that meningitis could be caused by several organisms, including meningococcal bacteria and viruses.
He advised parents not to ignore persistent fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, repeated vomiting or other unusual signs and symptoms.
In Ebonyi, the state government said it had procured vaccines and deployed health workers to communities to prevent possible meningitis outbreaks.
The State Director of Public Health, Dr Gabriel Ajah, said the government was taking proactive measures to protect residents from rising temperatures and the ongoing heatwave.
“Right now, there are no recorded cases of meningitis in the state. We have procured enough vaccines and are conducting health education on ways to cope with the rising heat,” he said.
Ajah said the interventions aimed to strengthen disease surveillance, improve early detection and ensure a prompt response to suspected cases across the state’s 13 local government areas.
He said the government was working with health partners, authorities and workers to ensure residents had access to vaccination, medical care and appropriate treatment.
Ajah urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report meningitis symptoms to the nearest health facility rather than resorting to self-medication. He also stressed the importance of public awareness and community participation in preventing heat-related illnesses.
He said the state had designated Mondays for vaccination at community primary health care centres to improve access. He advised residents to take advantage of the service and seek information from health workers about available preventive care.
The director called on community leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to support government efforts by raising awareness about vaccination, good hygiene and timely medical attention.
Some Abakaliki residents expressed concern about the heatwave and a lack of awareness about prevention and remedies.
Mrs Jane Akpoke, a retired teacher, called for more awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities. She said she had seen health workers visiting communities to administer vaccines and added that sustained public education could encourage more residents to participate.
Another resident, Mr Chike Osondu, urged officials to involve religious and market leaders in awareness campaigns to help spread information about meningitis prevention and vaccination.
In Enugu, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the state had not recorded any cases of meningitis or other heat-related illnesses.
Ugwu said the state had worked to prevent heat-related illnesses through continued routine and special meningitis A vaccination for children aged zero to five years.
He said the state, in collaboration with its health partners, had continued meningitis A vaccination to strengthen children’s immunity. Ugwu, a former Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), said each exercise targeted more than one million children.
“Although vast areas of the state are close to the rainforest, we do not take routine meningitis A vaccination for children lightly. We sometimes conduct special meningitis vaccination if there is a suspected case in a neighbouring state.
“Vaccination against meningitis and heat-related illnesses has been effective so far in protecting our children,” he said.
Ugwu encouraged residents to stay in well-ventilated homes, avoid crowded spaces with poor ventilation and air pollution, and seek medical attention if they develop a sudden fever.
Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu, a professor of community medicine at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, said heatwaves could increase the risk of meningitis. He urged residents to stay in shaded or air-conditioned places.
Ndibuagu also advised residents to avoid places where they would sweat heavily and to avoid wearing dark clothing, which absorbs heat. He urged people to reduce walking or farming under the sun and to drink plenty of water after such activities.
Meanwhile, some Enugu residents complained that the heat had increased their expenses, including the cost of running generators, buying water and purchasing rechargeable fans to keep their homes cool.
Mr Chidi Okpara, a resident of Achara Layout, lamented the financial burden of coping with the heatwave, particularly the cost of alternative power.
“I spend a lot on fuel every day to ensure my children sleep soundly at night,” Okpara said.
Mrs Vivian Ezechukwu, a resident of Idaw River, said her household had been buying twice as much water as usual because of the heatwave.
Mrs Ozioma Eke, a retired nurse, said consistent water supply—a key way to cope with the heat—remained a challenge for some residents, as public tap water had not been reticulated to all parts of the metropolis.
