The Ministry of Health has deployed medical supplies to the Brong Ahafo and Northern regions to treat patients battling Pneumococcal Meningitis.

“Extra ordinary times call for extra ordinary responses. The medication we sent is quite expensive but we have told the facilities to give them free to the patients,” the Deputy Health Minister Dr Victor Bampoe told Joy News.

About 57 cases with 22 deaths have been confirmed since the beginning of the outbreak of the disease in the two regions.

Meningitis is caused by the inflammation of the productive membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord known as the meninges.

The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord.

The deadly disease may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, but can also be caused by physical injury, cancer or certain drugs.

Its treatment and severity differ, depending on its cause.

According to the Deputy Health Minister, the challenge with the disease is that there are residual effects.

“Sometimes especially in children, you will have some residual effects like deafness or alteration of the mental state,” he stated.

Dr Victor Bampoe however added that government is in total control in handling the disease.

"It is being handled very seriously and we are in total control," he said.

Health Officials in both regions have stepped up surveillance and monitoring in the area to avoid the spread of the disease.