Meningitis: Man Accuses Hospital Of Negligence Leading To Death

The family of a 19-year old student who died of suspected meningitis has accused the Upper East regional hospital authorities of being lax in the handling the girl, causing her death.

Brother of the deceased, Braimah Abeliwin Laminu said his sister, Rukaya Ibrahimah, a student of Zuarungu Senior High School died last Saturday because the medical personnel failed to "act fast" after suspecting meningitis.

"They killed her," he told Joy News Monday explaining the hospital took no immediate steps after Ibhrahimah was admitted there

The three regions of the north lie within what the World Health Organisation has described as the 'meningitis belt'. Ghana records seasonal reports of meningitis normally between the dry periods of October to March.

The Ghana Health Service has explained that during these dry periods with relatively low humidity and abundance of dust, individuals become susceptible to meningitis infection.

The life-threatening infectious disease causes inflammation of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord.

While this is known, the brother of the deceased said but for the lackadaisical handling of his sister, Ibrahimah would have lived.

He has demanded the authorities decide on a compensation package for the family. "Once this has happened there is the need for them to pay compensation," he said.

Braimah Laminu also asked that the family be vaccinated as well as friends who had contact with his sister before her death to avoid a similar fate.

At least three students have died of meningitis in the last month.

A second-year science student at Koforidua Technical School, a student of Tempane Senior High School in the Upper East Region and another student from Damongo Senior High School in the Northern Region h ave all died of different strains of Meningitis.

The Ghana Health Service has said the deaths are isolated cases which cannot constitute an outbreak.

Table 1: Meningitis Burden in Ghana, 2010-2015
Year Cases Deaths
2010 1164 128
2011 790 104
2012 956 90
2013 454 41
2014 477 39
2015 315 33
Source: Ghana Health Service