Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has embarked on developing a comprehensive plan for the disease’s elimination by 2030.
Meningitis, an infection impacting the protective meninges around the brain and spinal cord, has been particularly prevalent in Africa over the past two decades.
The national elimination plan’s primary objective is not only to eradicate bacterial meningitis epidemics but also to reduce preventable cases and fatalities. Additionally, this plan aims to bolster the resilience of Kenya’s healthcare system.
The Ministry expressed in a statement, “The national elimination plan aims to effectively combat meningitis and mitigate its impact on individuals and communities.”
Meningitis can arise from various sources, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, with the bacterial form being especially lethal, capable of proving fatal within just 24 hours.
WHO states that one out of every five survivors of bacterial meningitis might suffer from enduring complications such as hearing loss, seizures, and even limb amputations.
The disease manifests in symptoms like neck stiffness, fever, confusion, headaches, and nausea. Although treatments and vaccines against some primary bacterial causes of meningitis exist, the ailment remains a considerable global threat.