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The Northern Regional Meningitis Preparedness and Response Team of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has reported that the region has not recorded any deaths from meningitis.
As of the 13th Week of 2025, the region had recorded 26 suspected cases with six laboratory-confirmed cases, maintaining its record of zero deaths since 2021. Dr Abdulai Abukari, the Northern Regional Director of Health, who announced this, said despite regional risks, there had been a general decline in confirmed cases compared to previous years.
He made the announcement at a debriefing session on the meningitis situation in the region when Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the newly appointed Director-General of the GHS, visited the Tamale Regional Health Directorate as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
Dr Abukari attributed the success to the region’s ability to operate a functional Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, which was a more robust surveillance system with community involvement, timely testing of suspected cases, and the maintenance of essential supplies such as reagents and antibiotics. He said the region also remained in a “watch mode” with clear escalation protocols in place.
Dr Abukari said to sustain the progress and reduce cases, the region would develop and implement strategies for sustainable volunteer motivation, advocate for resources to address funding gaps, and establish a robust orientation and training programme for new staff, including personnel at the Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
Professor Akoriyea commended the Regional Health Directorate for its efforts to address the impact of meningitis in the region. He said his visit was part of the resetting agenda aimed at revamping the health sector and ensuring quality healthcare delivery, particularly in deprived communities.
He hinted that plans were underway to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the GHS and the Tamale Teaching Hospital, to enhance the welfare of workers and patients as part of his commitment to run a more inclusive and people centered administration of health delivery. He pledged his readiness to collaborate with key stakeholders in providing the necessary support to health professionals, including providing incentives to enable them to fulfill their mandate effectively.
Source: GNA
