Zamfara Officials Allegedly Divert Meningitis Drugs

As 215 people have died from suspected cases of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in Zamfara State, the state officials are reportedly diverting drugs meant to treat patients suffering from the disease unlike the Internal Displaced Person items in other parts of the country.

Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State On Monday threatened to deal with anyone caught diverting drugs meant for treating meningitis patients in the state.

The governor issued the warning while speaking to journalists over suspected cases of diversion of the drugs.

Yari said the state government had made adequate provision to contain the disease since it first manifested in Gora ward of Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

He said the setting up of the state Meningitis Control Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, was to check any excesses but lamented that reports reaching him indicated that some of the drugs were being diverted.

Yari said: “l am particularly touched to see that many of these patients are rural poor people, yet they are asked to spend thousands in order to buy drugs which we have already provided free of charge at all public health facilities throughout the state.

“I will not take it lightly with anyone caught selling or diverting such drugs because it is as good as saying let the patient die,” he warned.”

He said the state government would investigate allegations of diversion or any act that would deny the patients access to drugs and treatment to discipline the culprits.

The state was reported as the worst hit by this year’s meningitis scourge in the country since the disease broke out in two months ago.