Catholic Church Confirms Death Of Reverend Sister Battling Meningitis

The Catholic Church on Sunday confirmed the death of Rev. Sister Christiana Umeadi, its Health Coordinator, in an auto crash.

A statement signed by Rev. Fr. Christian Anyanwu, the Director of Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, in Abuja, said Umeadi, until her death was a member of the Sokoto Diocese.

Anyanwu said Umeadi, who was returning to her station after participating in mass cerebrospinal meningitis immunisation, was involved in an auto crash at Bakura in Zamfara State.

He said the medical team had covered several parts of Sokoto Diocese for the immunisation in the last one month and as the outbreak got worse, the health team intensified their efforts.

The states they covered, he said, includes Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi.

Anyanwu explained that Umeadi led her team to Zamfara State for the immunisation exercise in March, where they were billed to spend just a day in Gusau town, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Anyanwu noted that her remains had since been deposited in the morgue at the Usmanu DanFodio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

He said that her immediate family, the Dominican Congregation, the Diocese of Sokoto and all her patients were left in utter shock and disbelief.

“We all resign to the will of God and trusting that our Sister will rise again at the resurrection,” he said.

Until her death Umeadi was the Assistant Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Gusau, and Zamfara State.

The church has yet to announce a date for her burial.

Health officials reported over 100 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis in Sokoto State with five deaths.

Officials also reported no fewer than 80 people have lost their lives to meningitis in Zamfara State in the last two months, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Suleiman Gummi, has said.

Meningitis had earlier killed at least three students in a Secondary School in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

Severe heats occasioned by intense solar radiation and living in congested apartments are parts of what medical experts believe are causing meningitis.