An NGO "Friends of Ouagadougou Municipality," Wednesday called on the Burkinabe Health Ministry to step up measures at stemming the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least 400 people from the more than 5,000 reported cases this year.
The association in a statement said that vaccines and other essential medical supplies should be made available to affected communities in sufficient quantities. Enlightenment campaigns should also be stepped up, the association said, stressing that meningitis control should be prioritised under the national health policy.
It said the country usually faced meningitis outbreaks in the first quarter of every year.
A report by the Health Ministry 10 March said 15 of the country's 55 health districts were on outbreak alert, while 11 had reported the disease across seven of the nation's 13 regions.
The association further recommended the establishment of a national committee against epidemic diseases, with regional, provincial and communal branches. 15 March 2007 - PANA
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