The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has donated GH¢100,000 to support the fight against the ongoing outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the Upper West Region.
The donation was presented by NLA’s Director-General, Mohammed Abdul Salam, to the Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing.
Speaking on the donation, the Director-General emphasized that this contribution is part of the NLA’s corporate social responsibility, particularly in light of the severity of the outbreak.
He expressed confidence that the GH¢100,000 would provide a significant boost to the region’s health teams in managing the crisis.
The Regional Minister expressed deep appreciation to the Good Causes Foundation, the NLA’s charitable arm, for the generous contribution.
He highlighted that the funds would be used to treat those affected by CSM and save lives.
Minister Puozuing revealed that 14 lives have already been lost to the disease, with over 70 confirmed cases in the region.
He also noted that the situation has been worsened by the absence of valid National Health Insurance cards among many residents.
The funds will be directed towards the purchase of antibiotics for those diagnosed with CSM, as well as for contact tracing and public education efforts to raise awareness about the disease in the coming months.
Additionally, the Regional Minister announced that a fund would be established to allow individuals and organizations to donate through the Upper West Regional Coordination Council to further support the ongoing response to the outbreak.