By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken some proactive and preventive measures to support the Borno State Government in the control and management of monkey pox, malaria, cholera and COVID-19 in Maiduguri Metropolis Council, Here, Mafa and Konduga LGAs of the state.
These measures followed the recent outbreak of monkey pox diseases in the neighboring state of Adamawa in North-East Nigeria, among other 8 states and the FCT, which where identified by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The WHO Emergency Manager, Borno State, Dr. Racheal Lako stated this on Monday in Maiduguri, while briefing the press about the sensitization exercise at Dolori Community of Mai Sandari Ward of Here LGC of the state.
Dr. Lako explained that no fewer than 30 community health champions have been engaged by the WHO to move around various houses, streets in the neighborhood to enlighten, sensitize and mobilize households on the dangers and preventive measures for monkey pox, malaria, cholera and COVID-19.
He noted that community health champions would embark on the sensitization exercise for 30 days.
He added that the WHO has promised to continue to support the Borno State Ministry of Health and Human Services in ensuring that adequate awareness on the prevention measures of epidemic-prone diseases are enhanced.
According to him, “Each of the 30 Community Health Champions will sensitize 30 households per day for a period of 30 days while the Team is expected to move from house to house in pair or two CHCs. Thus, the two will be expected to create awareness to 60 households per day subsequently for 30 days period”.
He also said the team will also be engaging communities on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.
“It is very important that no individual should be left out from receiving their covid-19 vaccination”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has confirmed that there are about 4 cases of money pox diseases in the state.
The state Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Mohammed Arab, disclosed this to our correspondent in an interview at his office in Maiduguri.
Professor Arab said that out of the 4 monkey pox patients admitted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), one patient has been treated successfully and discharged, while the remaining three are positively responding to treatment at the hospital.
He noted that the state Government is aware of the outbreak of monkey pox in some LGAs sharing boundaries with Borno State, adding that measures are being put in place to curtail the spread of the diseases.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
Leave a Reply