Dr Osei Kuffour Afreh, the Deputy Director of Public Health, Brong-Ahafo Regional Health Directorate, has advised Ghanaians to refrain from self-medication to control the impact of Pneumococcal meningitis.

He said with the rate of recorded of the disease, self-medication would lead to the rapid spread of the disease, which could increase its death toll.

Dr Afreh gave the advice at the launch of a project dubbed “Enhancing Maternal Mental Health of pregnant women, mothers and their children to realise the target goals for maternal and child health in Brong-Ahafo”.

He mentioned fever, headache, neck pains and convulsion as some of the immediate signs and symptoms of the Pneumococcal meningitis.

Dr Afreh appealed to the public to assist people who complained of such symptoms to get to the nearest health facility.

He said that 33 people had died since the virus was detected, with the region recording 139 cases.

Dr Afreh said the disease had been recorded in 18 municipals and districts, cautioning that if immediate measures were not enhanced it would spread to all the 27 district assemblies.

Dr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mission of Hope Society, a Non-governmental Organisation, and project implementors said about 29,520 pregnant women and mothers would benefit from it.

The three-year project is being funded by the DFID/UKAID through BasicNeeds Ghana at GH¢218,000.00.

Dr Benarkuu noted that globally mental health problems were rarely considered as a major public health challenge and evidence indicated that maternal mortality was still high.

He said the project sought to contribute to improved maternal health and livelihood among poor and vulnerable women and girls in 18 target districts in the region.

Dr Benarkuu appealed to traditional authorities, assembly members and faith-based organisations to support the project.