FROM available statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Health in April on the outbreak of Type C meningitis, more than 20 states were affected and over 1,000 deaths recorded. Interestingly, it was gathered that out of this figure, just two states – Sokoto and Zamfara – accounted for over 600 of the mortality cases from January till date. In Zamfara State alone it was learnt that more than 400 people had died.
Ironically, though the affected state governments have successfully tackled the spread of the disease, the case of Zamfara State has proven to be a different scenario. The situation there has left behind memories that would take some time to forget.
First was the remarks attributed to the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari when the disease was first reported. Speaking then on the disease, Governor Yari said that God had decided to punish the people of the state because of their sinful ways of life, while advising the citizens to revert to God for salvation.
“What we used to know as far as meningitis is concerned is the Type A virus. The World Health Organization (WHO), has carried out vaccinations against this Type A virus, not just in Zamfara, but in many other states.
“However, because people refused to stop their nefarious activities, God now decided to send Type C virus, which has no vaccination. People have turned away from God and he has promised that ‘if you do anyhow, you see anyhow’ that is just the cause of this outbreak as far as I am concerned.
“There is no way fornication will be so rampant and God will not send a disease that cannot be cured,” the governor was quoted to have said.
Even the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Dan Kande Gamji, did not help matters. While also speaking on the outbreak of the disease he underscored Yari’s blunder, describing the tragedy as an act of God.
The governor was not spared. His statement drew wide public condemnations from within and outside the state. Some public analysts and commentators even called for his resignation.
An activist in the state, Lukman Majidadi, remarked that such statements were uncharitable and irresponsible. Citing the example of Saudi Arabia, Majidadi had said the country, which is an Islamic country, did not wait for God to bring succour to its people whenever they fell sick. Rather the country had over the years established well-equipped hospitals and employed highly qualified personnel. The activist also told the governor that if he could not tackle the outbreak, he should resign.
However, in a swift reaction, the governor denied making such statements, saying he was misquoted. During the state’s weekly sermon organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the governor described the media reports of his remarks as a deliberate attempt “to cause mischief among the peace-loving people Nigeria in general, and Zamara state in particular.”
In another breath, Yari defended his statement saying that it was specifically targeted at the Muslim Ummah who accepted and believed in Islam, and had nothing to do with those who do not believe in the religion of Islam, adding that since according to him, the vaccines for the Type C meningitis were not available globally, the only practical option for the Muslim faithful and believers of other faiths is devotion to prayer for the safety of mankind, and encouraging professionals to devote time to aggressive scientific researches for the discovery of medicines/vaccines to cure the disease.
Nonetheless, the state government decided to set up a committee under the leadership of a top government official. However, it was learnt that not long after the committee started work, series of complaints levelled against it started coming in from different directions.
A source at the state ministry of Health who pleaded for anonymity alleged that there was the issue of corruption as funds were not judiciously utilised. Drugs were not bought,; make-shift camps were not erected and there were minor squabbles among members of the committee. It was gathered that during a visit to the committee, the state governor came face to face with the realities on ground.
First the governor was shocked to discover that there were no drugs in some of the designated camps and even where the drugs were available, they were in short supply. Worst of all Governor Yari discovered that patients were asked to pay for drugs which were meant to be given to them for free.
He also discovered that the patients, who were mostly children, were sleeping on bare floor, except in few of the camps where mattresses were made available. Meanwhile, according to our investigations, funds had also been allocated for the purchase the mattresses.
It was at this point that the governor became angry and announced the sacking of the committee, promising to look into the matter and prosecute all those found wanting.
Determined to forge ahead with tackling the meningitis scourge, Yari not only set up a new committee, he also went ahead to approve the sum of N35m for the new committee.
Speaking on the committee, the state commissioner for Health, Suleiman Adamu Gumi, disclosed that the committee has been working assiduously to ensure that the menace did not spread to other local government areas. He said only eight Local governments out of 14 were affected. According to him, the situation is now under control.
“We have successfully tackled the spread of Type C meningitis in the state. But I want to use this medium to thank the federal government through the minister, Professor Isaac Adewole for their prompt intervention. We equally appreciate the role of development partners like WHO, UNICEF, CDC, DFID etc for their various interventions,” he said.
A member of the new committee, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that it has worked assiduously to ensure that the menace did not spread to other local government areas. As of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the situation had been brought under control as, out of the 1,000 cases recorded in the state in January, there are only 70 cases yet to fully recover.