Meningitis in Togo : Professor Tchin Darré in Dankpen to strengthen the response to the epidemic

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Extract from the article: The Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Professor Tchin Darre, travelled to Namon on 17 January 2025, a town around 70 km north-west of Kara in the prefecture of Dankpen, to coordinate the response to a meningitis epidemic affecting the region. T

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The Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Professor Tchin Darre, travelled to Namon on 17 January 2025, a town around 70 km north-west of Kara in the prefecture of Dankpen, to coordinate the response to a meningitis epidemic affecting the region.  The visit followed an alert issued by the Minister of Health on 15 January, calling for vigilance against the spread of the disease.

Accompanied by the governor of the Kara region, the prefect of Dankpen and the mayor of the commune of Dankpen 2, the minister made a field visit to gauge the progress of the epidemic and assess the state of mind of local communities.  Professor Tchin Darre explained: «Our aim is to support health workers on the front line, to ensure that the measures taken in terms of inputs, equipment and diagnostic materials are effective, and to raise community awareness so that this disease can be eradicated quickly».

The Minister of Health also conveyed a message from the Head of State, expressing his support for the community and his condolences to the bereaved families, while encouraging the health staff mobilised in the response.

To support the fight against the disease, sufficient inputs such as medicines, solutions, masks and diagnostic reagents have been sent to the Namon health centre. In addition to these resources, health staff have been reinforced to ensure adequate care and effective awareness-raising.

During his visit, the minister and his delegation carried out a series of awareness-raising activities among local people, urging them to go to the health centre as soon as the first symptoms appear, for early detection and appropriate treatment. They also invited community leaders to become more involved in this fight by supporting the health workers.

Professor Tchin Darre then held discussions with the prefectural health directors of the Kara region to fine-tune surveillance and awareness-raising strategies, asking them to set up an active system to ensure rapid feedback of information on suspected cases and to guarantee optimal follow-up.

By 17 January 2025, more than 200 people had been seen, 26 of whom were diagnosed with meningitis and treated.Unfortunately, six deaths have been recorded, including four at home and two others at the health centre, who arrived in a critical condition. This worrying situation has led to an intensification of prevention and awareness measures.

In order to effectively combat the spread of the disease, awareness campaigns have been conducted in high-traffic areas such as markets, places of worship and schools, in collaboration with traditional medical practitioners, to raise awareness and encourage people to go to health centres quickly if they have symptoms. The local authorities and health professionals remain mobilised to contain this epidemic and protect the region's population.

Jean ELI