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Thousands of children at risk as meningitis epidemic rapidly spreads through Togo

by Amy Woodyatt | Plan UK
Wednesday, 23 March 2016 13:44 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A meningitis epidemic continues to spread through Togo, with children being most at risk from the disease.

Four regions out of six in the country are now affected with a total of 2.5 million people at risk. Children are dying every day from this epidemic.  The numbers of cases and subsequent deaths have more than quadrupled within the last month. Several districts of neighbouring Ghana have also been placed under epidemic and alert phases

It is children who are most at risk of meningitis. Alarmingly, 65% of all meningitis cases in the area are affecting children under the age of 15.

Plan International is responding to the outbreak in Togo. As of March 2016, twenty four districts of thirty three are affected.

The epidemic is spreading rapidly, with new cases reported every week in Togo.

Meningitis often has long term health implications for those who survive the disease.

Survivors commonly suffer from sight, hearing, speech or mobility impairment.

Around 60% of meningitis cases in Togo are children, meaning that a large number of children are at risk of remaining disabled for life.

Meningitis is a highly contagious, deadly disease and is treatable given enough time.

As the meningitis outbreak continues to spread at an alarming rate in Togo, health centres are struggling to cope with an increased demand for treatment.

Due to the rate at which the meningitis outbreak is spreading, treatment isn’t always guaranteed across all health facilities.

Patients have to travel long distances just to get the treatment they need. It can take several hours, resulting in a delay treatment or in some cases death.

Dr Hilim, Director of Health at Sotouboua District Hospital in Central Togo, said: “Some patients do not go to the hospital because they lack means to pay for transport. Some even die before they’re able to reach the hospital.”

One father said: “My son fell sick. He had a headache, neck pains and was very warm. During the night, he vomited and his condition got worse.

“We went to the village health centre and the nurse told me I had to take my son to the hospital. I had no means of transport so I went to the priests who agreed to drop us at the hospital. It was 4 am.

“We arrived and managed to park at the hospital, but it was too late. My son died in my arms. It was 7am.”

Plan International has launched an emergency health response to this epidemic, and is working with local health authorities to prevent, diagnose and treat meningitis. Plan International is supporting the Government of Togo with a mass vaccination campaign. Over 480,000 people in the most vulnerable districts will be vaccinated, and there is a need to vaccinate a further 2.5 million more.  

Plan is also working with communities and public health authorities to run awareness projects to educate people on the causes, symptoms and treatment of meningitis.

The Country Director for Plan International Togo, Mohamed Bah says: “It is imperative that we work to stop the spread of meningitis where we can, catching cases early and educating communities on preventative measures to avoid this epidemic from spreading further.

“This epidemic is disproportionately affecting young children, and the high fatality rate of this is alarming.

“Plan urgently requires funding to coordinate efforts to stop the further spread of meningitis.”

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