Health

Lagos Launches Public Health Campaign on Mpox

Published

11 months ago

August 27, 2024

OCHEFA

54 Views

The Lagos State Government has unveiled a series of comprehensive public health initiatives.

These are in response to the growing global concern over the Mpox virus, particularly the newly identified Clade 1B variant.

During a media briefing held at Protea Hotel, Alausa Ikeja, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, outlined the state’s multipronged strategy to shield Lagos from this emerging threat.

Prof. Abayomi announced three significant milestones as part of Lagos State’s public health strategy against Mpox.

The first is a robust stakeholder engagement involving experts from various sectors to discuss Mpox and its management, both locally and globally.

Although Lagos has no active cases at present, however, the risk posed by the more aggressive Clade 1B variant remains a significant concern due to Lagos’s extensive travel connections.

The second milestone is the activation of an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) specifically dedicated to monitoring and addressing the Mpox outbreak, with a particular focus on the Clade 1B variant.

The third milestone is the launch of a statewide public health awareness campaign aimed at educating residents about the risks associated with Mpox and preventive measures they can take.

The Commissioner emphasized the current concern over the Clade 1B variant, which is rapidly spreading across Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has now reached neighboring countries like Cameroon, Rwanda, and Burundi.

“This variant is distinct from the indigenous Clade 2 variant, which has been detected sporadically in West Africa. Although Lagos has no active cases at present, however, the risk posed by the more aggressive Clade 1B variant remains a significant concern due to Lagos’s extensive travel connections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak in the DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the need for a coordinated global response”, he said.

Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos State is taking proactive steps, drawing on its experience with past health crises like Ebola, COVID-19, cholera, and Lassa fever. According to him, these measures aim to prevent the introduction of the Clade 1B variant into Lagos, which could have severe health and economic implications.

The Commissioner explained that Mpox, like smallpox and cowpox, is a zoonotic disease that initially spreads from animals to humans, particularly through rodents and monkeys.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact, with the Clade 1B variant showing a higher transmission rate, especially through sexual contact.

Prof. Abayomi warned that while there are currently no active Mpox cases in Lagos, the state must remain vigilant against the potential importation of this aggressive variant.

He disclosed that a mini-symposium on Mpox which was held before the media briefing, featured insights from global health experts, including representatives from WHO, UNICEF, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), LUTH and LASUTH. “These experts discussed the risks posed by the Clade 1B variant to Lagos and the steps needed to create a biological shield against the virus.

The collective goal is to ensure that Lagos is fully prepared to manage any potential outbreak and minimize its impact”, Prof. Abayomi said.

While noting that Lagos State’s high population density and extensive travel links make it particularly vulnerable to the rapid spread of contagious diseases, the Commissioner urged the public and healthcare providers to be vigilant and prepared to recognize, diagnose, and manage Mpox cases effectively.

“The activation of the EOC and the launch of the public awareness campaign are critical components of this strategy.

As part of the proactive measures, a comprehensive public health awareness campaign has been rolled out across Lagos. This campaign seeks to inform the public about the symptoms of Mpox, such as fever, joint pain, body aches, and distinctive rashes.

Residents are urged to report any suspicious symptoms to the nearest health facility for prompt evaluation”, he stated.

Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos State is also exploring vaccine options and has established local research teams to guide government policy on Mpox. These efforts aim to bolster the state’s preparedness for a possible outbreak and ensure a swift and effective response.

The Commissioner noted that despite the absence of active Mpox cases in Lagos, the state government is committed to maintaining a high level of preparedness. Prof. Abayomi expressed gratitude to all partners and collaborators for their continued support in these efforts, stressing the importance of collective action in safeguarding Lagos from the potential dangers of Mpox.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity, and Global Health in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam provided detailed information on the symptoms of the Clade 1B variant.
He highlighted the severity of the rashes caused by this variant, particularly those that appear in the genital area, which are more painful and pronounced than typical Mpox rashes.

Dr. Abdus-Salam emphasized the critical need for early identification and containment of Mpox cases to prevent the spread of the Clade 1B variant within Lagos. “The state’s public health systems are on high alert, ready to act swiftly to protect residents from this virulent strain”, he said.

Lagos State’s comprehensive and proactive approach to public health sets a precedent for other regions to follow.

The state’s ongoing efforts to prevent the importation and spread of Mpox, particularly the Clade 1B variant, demonstrate its commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its residents in the face of emerging global health threats.

Health

Nigerian Nurses in Govt -Owned Hospitals Beginning Nationwide Strike Tonight

“Private hospitals are not included. This is because for now the private practitioner nurses are not spread over Nigeria,”

Published

3 days ago

July 30, 2025

OhiBaba

44 Views

Twenty-five thousand nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, will begin a seven-day nationwide strike, tonight.

The strike is in response to issues which include poor remuneration, staff shortages, unpaid allowances, and unsafe working conditions.

On July 14, 2025, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.

The National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said that the strike would involve a total withdrawal of services across all federal health institutions.

The 15-day ultimatum ends by Tuesday, July 29, 2025, by midnight, and the warning strike commences on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 12.01am.

“The action would include 74 federal hospitals – teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, specialist hospitals like orthopaedic, neuro-psychiatric, and eye centres, as well as all general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government areas.”

Health

UK doctors on five-day strike, shun PM’s plea

Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.

(AFP)

Published

1 week ago

July 25, 2025

OhiBaba

60 Views

• Uk doctors on strike / AFP

Thousands of UK doctors launched a five-day strike early Friday after talks with the Labour government for a new pay increase failed to reach a deal.

Doctors were out on picket lines outside hospitals after negotiations with the government went down the wire late Thursday, without reaching an accord.

The move comes after the doctors accepted a pay rise offer totalling 22.3 per cent over two years in September, soon after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party took power.

Resident doctors — those below consultant level — have said they felt they had “no choice” but to strike again to reverse “pay erosion” since 2008.

Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.

Launching a strike “will mean everyone loses,” Starmer wrote in the Times, highlighting the added strain it would put on the already struggling National Health Service (NHS).

He appealed to the doctors not to “follow” their union, the British Medical Association (BMA) “down this damaging road.

“Our NHS and your patients need you, ” Starmer warned.” Lives will be blighted by this decision,” Starmer warned.

Health

ODODO RESTORES MEDICINE PROGRAMME AT PAAU ANYIGBA AFTER A DECADE

Upon assuming office in 2024, Governor Ododo directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities.

Published

1 week ago

July 24, 2025

OCHEFA

67 Views

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full re-accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme at the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, following a 10-year suspension.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams.

He described the approval as a landmark achievement driven by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to revitalising healthcare and medical education in the state.

Dr. Adams recalled that the MBBS programme was originally accredited and commenced in 2012 at the then Kogi State University, but the accreditation was withdrawn in 2015 after a resource verification exercise by the NUC revealed the absence of key infrastructure and academic requirements.

He noted that the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello, upon assuming office in 2016, swiftly intervened by approving full scholarships and facilitating the transfer of affected third-year medical students to other institutions. “Today, over 90% of those students have successfully graduated,” he said.

Alh. Yahaya Bello also approved the construction of a state-of-the-art clinical complex at the university, which has since been completed and put to use.

In addition, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Marietu Tenuche, was mandated to commence all basic sciences and allied health programmes required to support a robust MBBS curriculum—an instruction that has since been carried out.

Upon assuming office in 2024, Governor Ododo directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities.

These included a multi-purpose medical students’ teaching laboratory, lecture halls, a library, consultant offices, and student hostels.

“These projects received prompt approval from His Excellency, and I personally represented him at the official handing-over of project sites to contractors,” Dr. Adams stated, noting that construction work began immediately and is now at an advanced stage.

Following the infrastructural and academic upgrades, the university invited the NUC for a fresh round of resource verification.

Based on the successful outcome of the exercise, the commission has now granted approval for the full re-establishment of the MBBS programme at the university.

“This is a major milestone—ten years after the initial withdrawal—and it signals a new era of medical training in Kogi State,” the statement read.

Dr. Adams described the development as part of Governor Ododo’s holistic strategy to expand the state’s healthcare workforce.

He highlighted other strategic investments in medical and health education across the state, including the College of Nursing in Obangede, the College of Health Sciences in Idah, the College of Medical Sciences at CUSTECH, Osara, and now, the fully restored College of Medical Sciences at PAAU, Anyigba.“Governor Ododo’s commitment to healthcare is not in words, but in action.

These projects are not just about infrastructure—they are about the future of healthcare delivery in Kogi State,” he said.

Dr. Adams concluded by expressing gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the initiative, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to completing all ongoing infrastructure projects supporting the MBBS programme.

Also reacting to the development, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the re-accreditation as another promise kept.

“During his campaign, Governor Ododo promised to ensure the return of the MBBS programme to Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba. Today, he has fulfilled that promise. He continues to make difficult tasks look simple with his results-driven style of leadership.

This is a remarkable demonstration of an unyielding commitment to improving healthcare resources in the state,” Fanwo stated.