5 preventable incidents that hit Africa hard in 2017

Meningitis Outbreaks in Ghana, Niger and Nigeria

Meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, continues to be a major health challenge in Ghana, Nigeria and other West African countries. Over the last nine months, authorities in Ghana have intensified processes of identifying cases of pneumococcal meningitis after the disease killed four students at Kumasi Academy in March.

Although health experts in Ghana have dispelled fears of a major meningitis outbreak, they acknowledge that the disease, which is highly preventable, remains a major health risk in the country, especially in the northern region.

In Nigeria, at least 8,057 cases of suspected cerebrospinal meningitis were reported in April, with 230 of them being confirmed through laboratory tests. At least 745 people in the West African nation have died this year from the disease, according to Relief Web.

Experts say the deadly disease can easily be eliminated if proper preparedness and response policies are put in place.