Meningitis Killed 33 Children in Sokoto 

By Tgnews Reporter

The Sokoto State Government has confirmed that 33 children have died from a fresh outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis that has affected several communities in the state over the past month.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, disclosed the figures on Wednesday during an advocacy meeting with district heads.

The meeting focused on child health programmes including the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children (SARMAAN) and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE).

Dr. Abubakar reported 256 suspected cases across eight local government areas. Sabon Birni Local Government Area recorded the highest number with 63 cases, followed by Wamakko with 60, Shagari (51), Tambuwal (33), Dange Shuni (26), Kebbe (16), Bodinga (2), Kware (2), and Gada (1).

Many deaths occurred in communities before victims could reach hospitals. The commissioner blamed delayed health-seeking behaviour, often caused by beliefs that the disease has spiritual causes.

To control the outbreak, the state government, working with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), has established isolation centres at General Hospitals in Dogo Daji and Tambuwal. These centres have separate wards for male and female patients.

A nurse at the Dogo Daji isolation centre, who preferred anonymity, said 22 patients are currently on admission. Although some patients are recovering, new cases keep arriving.

The centre offers completely free treatment, including medicines, feeding, and transportation. However, two recent deaths were recorded: a young boy named Amir and Nura Jabo from Jabo town, who died while being referred to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH).

Professor Bello Magaji Arkilla, Director of The One Health Institute at UDUTH, explained that northern Nigeria lies in the African “meningitis belt.”

Dry and dusty weather conditions make the disease spread easily, especially among children and young adults. Overcrowding, low immunity, and late treatment also increase the risk.

He urged residents to watch for symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, and unconsciousness, and to seek medical help immediately. Professor Arkilla called for full support for government vaccination campaigns and warned against vaccine hesitancy.

Health authorities say patients who receive early treatment are responding well. No deaths have been recorded in recent days as response efforts have been strengthened.

The government is appealing to the public to avoid self-medication, ignore spiritual misconceptions, and report suspected cases quickly to the nearest health facility.

Officials are intensifying community sensitization and active surveillance in all affected areas to bring the outbreak under control.