The victim of the Pneumococcal Meningitis recorded at the Essam Government Hospital in the Bia West of the Western Region was imported from the La Cote d’Ivoire.

The victim was a 16-year old girl who hailed from Subri near Bibiani.

Dr Michael Azumah, Bia West District Director of Health, told the Ghana News Agency that the victim’s medical condition had been stabilized and responding to treatment.

He said the victim was brought in from Yabre, a district in neighbouring La Cote d’Ivoire last week.

He said she was first admitted in a health facility in La Cote d’Ivoire and was later sent to the Twelve Apostles’ prayer camp but her condition worsened and was brought to the Essam Government Hospital in the Bia West District for further treatment.

Dr Azumah said the victim was brought to the health facility vomiting with general body weakness, however, some anti-biotics were given to her and it has since stabilized her condition.

The District Health Director said the hospital made some tests on the victim and it was confirmed that the case was a Pneumococcal Meningitis.

He said a team from Ghana visited the Ivorian District of Yabre to assess the condition there and since then the Port Health Service and Ghana Immigration Service has instituted stringent measures to prevent more of such victims from being transported into the country.

He advised persons who experience severe neck pains, vomiting, coughing and other known symptoms of the disease to report it quickly to the nearest health facility for treatment.

The District Health Director also entreated Ghanaians to drink a lot of water due to the dryness of the weather, avoid hot places and overcrowded environment since the bacteria could be contracted from an infected person who sneezes or coughs into the atmosphere.