… Says situation now under control
From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The management of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero (KSUSTA) has confirmed that six of its students have died as a result of suspected outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Mallam Mustapha Ango, confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, on behalf of the university’s management
The statement said the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Bagudu Danshehu, condoled with the families of the deceased students.
According to the statement, “We are deeply saddened by these losses and remain committed in our efforts to safeguarding the health and well-being of our student body.
“Upon identifying the initial signs of the health concern, which regrettably resulted in the loss of some students, the university took swift and decisive action.
“A specialized committee, led by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Balarabe Isah, was established to conduct a thorough outbreak investigation protocols. The situation was promptly reported to both the State Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Higher Education.
“A stakeholders’ meeting was convened, bringing together key figures, including the permanent secretaries of the aforementioned ministries, representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and other health sector experts.
“This collaborative approach ensured a comprehensive strategy to address the situation. Several critical measures were implemented in response to the outbreak. The state government provided immediate funding to the Ministry of Health to contain the outbreak and facilitate effective medical interventions.
“The Ministry of Health has augmented the university clinic’s medical team by assigning an additional medical doctor and adequate number of other medical staff to take care of any case. They also pledge an additional doctor, together with additional ambulance to cater for emergencies.
“To prevent further incidents, a comprehensive immunization campaign is currently in progress, serving as an additional preventive measure to protect our students and staff. We understand the concerns of parents, guardians, and the general public during this challenging period.”