Muslim Rights Concern of Nigeria (MURIC)
Kaaba

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Tele-Dawah Plaza,
Zone 'E', GRA, Iba Estate,
Iba, Lagos State,
Nigeria

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LASU Post Office,
HO 102 001,
Ojo, Lagos State,
Nigeria.

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234-1-470-3866
 
 
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In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Press Release: WANTED: URGENT ACTION TO STOP SPREAD OF MENINGITIS 25th March, 2009

The outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) was first noticed in neighbouring Niger Republic a few weeks ago. In the twinkling of an eye, the disease reared its ugly head in Kano , Gombe and Borno States where it claimed twenty, fourteen and fifty-four lives respectively.

The most alarming development is the advent of the dreaded CSM in states hitherto not prone to the disease, namely, Cross River , Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi. Equally unnerving is the fear that the situation has the tendency to get worse particularly in view of the acute scarcity of the preventive vaccines.

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) find this trend disgusting, nauseating and absolutely unpalatable. It exposes the messy state of our primary health system. Nigeria appears to specialise only in fire-brigade measures when things have gone out of hand. There is no visionary, professional and meticulous planning in any of our affairs: from power generation and distribution to education, air traffic system, the rail and road transport. We are a nation that understands only the culture of waste.

MURIC cannot imagine why Nigerian health authorities could be caught pants down once again by the CSM disease having caused the nation international embarrassment about ten years ago when Nigerian pilgrims were disallowed from performing hajj due to the outbreak of the disease. We denounce this myopic, parochial, archaic and anachronistic method of serving the people.

The Federal Ministry of Health in particular has no excuse for allowing CSM to torment Nigerian citizens this time around. MURIC calls on the National Assembly to summon the Minister of Health. He must explain this sheer ineptitude. Nigerian taxpayers deserve the government's protection and the elected representatives of the people are their last hope. This country has the wherewithal to purchase enough vaccines in readiness for this type of epidemic. Any negligence on the part of past or present holders of that office must be made accountable.

Finally, the Federal Government must ensure that the disease is put under control before the 2009 hajj season approaches in order to avoid similar embarrassment from the Saudi authorities. The time to act is now.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola                            Mallam Abdul Yakeen Williams
DIRECTOR                                                      PRO

 
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