Nigerian Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the NCDC, and other relevant stakeholders, has activated a comprehensive response plan to tackle the Mpox disease across the country.
The Director of Health and Care for the Nigerian Red Cross, Dr. Mannir Jega, disclosed this in Kaduna during a training session for health workers from 15 states nationwide.
Dr. Jega explained that Mpox was a global health concern affecting many countries, including Nigeria.
He emphasized that a preparedness strategy is being developed specifically for the Northern region to reduce disease transmission and protect vulnerable populations, particularly in low-burden states.
The Director revealed that there are about one hundred and eight confirmed cases of Mpox across twenty seven states in the country.
'the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control -NCDC reveal 108 confirmed Mpox cases out of 1,395 suspected cases this year, spanning 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory'
'Mpox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by both the World Health Organization -WHO and the Africa CDC. Unfortunately, Nigeria is among the affected countries',he narrated.
Dr Mannir Jega stated that the current training program aims at equipping the participants on how to respond effectively to the outbreak.
The director stressed the urgency of the problem, insisting that dicisisive action must be taken to mitigate and prevent further spread.
In her remark, the Health and Care Officer, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society-IFRC Joan Ojukwu reiterated the commitment of the organization to support NCDC with technical support for prompt awareness mobilization.
'the idea for the training is to have a strong preparedness action plan where staffs will be equipped with the right information about the Mpox disease,while raising awareness on risk communication and community engagement '
'IFRC and Red Cross hopes to support the state with the needed materials like banners ,risk communication key messages information which will be display at the health facilities in the various states',she explained
Joan Ojukwu also said RED CROSS and the IFRC has trained some community base disease surveillance officers who will work closely with the organization to conduct active search case of the Mpox.
The Health Care officer also said IFRC in synergy with National and State Health Care Development Agency is presently conducting a vaccination roll out.
'IFRC and Red Cross aims to help the states with logistics , mobilization of people , vaccinating health care workers ,and increased awareness at the airport and the land border areas ',she concluded.
One of the participants from Kogi state who is a disease surveillance officer Mrs Aturu Christiana appreciates Red Cross for the training, promising to take back what she learns and cascade it at the community level for the good of her people. #radionigeriakaduna
