The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has paid an emergency working visit to Jigawa, Kano and Kastina to assess the situation on ground on the outbreak of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the states.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health Marshall Gundu, and made available to Nigerian Newsday, stated that in Kano, the minister was conducted round the Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano by the director of medical services Dr. Wali Suleiman, in which a total of 1,260 cases of CSM have been reported and 53 have been confirmed dead, adding that "out of the 44 local governments in the state, 42 are affected, 12 are at a peak level while 20 are at alert level. The minister therefore directed that additional vaccines be delivered to the state immediately."

According to the statement, while in Jigawa, the minister paid a courtesy visit to the governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in which he told the governor that he was on an emergency working visit to assess the situation on ground on the outbreak of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis."

"Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto states sharing border with the Zindar region of Niger Republic has been sent an alert on the outbreak of CMS and the federal government is doing its best to supply vaccines and drugs to the affected states," the minister said, adding that "presently, there is transition in the world as per vaccines production, and a new generation of vaccine is to be out very soon." The minister therefore advised the Jigawa state governor to ensure that the state has a solid primary healthcare system, which according to him, will provide good health for the people.

While thanking the minister for taking time to immediately visit Jigawa to assess the outbreak of CSM in the state, governor Lamido said he was impressed with the patience and concern for the masses which the minister has shown, vowing that "on our part, we would do everything possible to support you in your quest to improve the health sector in Nigeria."

In Katsina, the minister who was received by the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, said "there had been epidemic outbreak of CSM from neighbouring Niger Republic, and to get on top of the situation, I have decided to come and assess the situation on ground."

Continuing, the minister told the governor that "we are aware that you have done well in terms of drugs and immunization, but we need to improve our primary healthcare system which will help in reducing the number of deaths."

Earlier, governor Shema who expressed gratitude to the minister, said he was happy with the quick response of the minister. He revealed that "out of the 34 local government areas of Katsina state, only 8 were affected by the epidemic," adding that "we have set up rural ambulances to carry out routine immunization and vaccination in the rural areas."