33 CSM deaths in Upper West: Rashid Pelpuo writes to Akufo-Addo on ‘lack of expeditious action’

While the attention of the nation is fixed on fighting COVID-19, the people of the Upper West region appear to be dealing with a more serious threat.

214 people have so far been infected with Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) with 33 deaths. This came to light during a presentation by the Upper West regional director of health last week.

CSM is an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. This condition is classified as a medical emergency.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 10 -15 % of patients diagnosed with CSM die. MP for Wa Central, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, has thus penned an open letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo lamenting what he calls “loud silence and lack of expeditious action over the devastating Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) infection in the Upper West Region.”

The former Sports Minister is calling for similar attention being given the fight against COVID-19 to be accorded the CSM outbreak as he argues that more lives have been lost to the CSM than the dreaded COVID-19.

He also alleges that drugs for the treatment of the condition are being managed for political gain.

Though Dr Rashid Pelpuo stopped short of mentioning names, he claims “government rather than supplying the Regional Central Medical store with the drugs to be administered to all, allegedly decided to hand them over to that individual to present them as that person’s own effort at helping the outbreak.

Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews