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MPOX: Nigeria, Others To Benefit As WHO Plans $135m Fund

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Nigeria and several other countries that have been recently hit by the Monkey Pox (MPOX) outbreak, stand to benefit from a $135m funding plan by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A statement by the organisation on Monday said the fund was necessary as it has launched a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox through coordinated global, regional, and national efforts.

This follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General on 14 August.

Although the current plan is subject to inputs by WHO’s member states, who were briefed on the plan on 23 August, the plan covers the six-month period of September 2024-February 2025.

During the period, a $135m funding need is envisioned for the response by WHO, member states, and partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) which Nigeria is a member, communities, and researchers, among others.

The plan, which builds on the temporary recommendations and standing recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures like diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimising animal-to-human transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak prevention and control.

Strategic vaccination efforts will focus on individuals at the highest risk, including close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to interrupt transmission chains.At the global level, the emphasis will be on strategic leadership, timely evidence-based guidance, and access to medical countermeasures for the most at-risk groups in affected countries.

WHO said it is working with a broad range of international, regional, national and local partners and networks to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness, readiness and response.

This includes engagement with the ACT-Accelerator Principals group; the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response; the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics; and the interim Medical Counter Measures Network (i-MCM Net).

“The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries can be controlled and can be stopped.

“Doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil society, researchers and manufacturers, and our Member States.

This SPRP provides that plan, based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and coordination across sectors,” said Dr Ghebreyesus.

Nigeria Intensifies Surveillance As Mpox Cases Hit 39The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths from mpox have been recorded across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, made the revelation at a press briefing on the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern earlier in the month.

He said the NCDC is intensifying surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to new cases.

According to Idris, the NCDC all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders are on high alert.

He added that some states have also been put on high alert including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

WHO recently declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, worried by the rise in cases in DRC and the spread to nearby countries.

The WHO called a meeting of experts to study the outbreak and make a recommendation to Dr Ghebreyesus.

“Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” Tedros told a press conference.

“This is something that should concern us all. WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.

”The decision comes after the African Union’s health watchdog declared its public health emergency over the growing outbreak.

Mpox has swept through the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus formerly called monkeypox was first discovered in humans in 1970, and spread to other countries.

Tedros said the more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported so far this year in DR Congo have already exceeded last year’s total.

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Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates Ambulance to Mainland Hospital Yaba

The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.

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the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has donated a brand-new ambulance to Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.

The hospital’s MD/CEO, Dr. Adejumo Adedeji Olusola, said that the donation has addressed a longstanding challenge, allowing the hospital to perform tasks that were previously impossible.

“We are really grateful, and our sincere gratitude goes to Mr. Aliko Dangote. We lacked an ambulance for about 10 years, but now we have one we can boast of thanks to Mr. Aliko Dangote,” Dr. Olusola said.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation has been at the forefront of major health interventions in Nigeria, including efforts to combat malnutrition, polio, and pandemic outbreaks.

This donation reflects the foundation’s broader mission to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Francis Aminu, Director of Health and Nutrition at ADF, emphasized the foundation’s dedication to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly in the health sector.

“What we do at ADF isn’t just charity, it’s a duty. We believe that every Nigerian life is valuable, and health is the foundation on which all other aspirations are built; no Nigerian should be left behind due to a lack of access to essential health resources,” he stated.

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Sufferer of Kidney Failure, Sewanu, Needs Your Help

Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.

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Shared by Dr Love , on X (Twitter):

My name is Hosu moses sewanu, a native of Ipokia local government in ogun state, was born and raised in Lagos state .

My dad is late, I still have my mum and am the second out of the family of 3.

It all started late 2023, I woke one morning and I noticed that the left side of my head was seriously pounding so I took paracetamol just like the normal thing thinking it was just an ordinary headache but after taking the paracetamol few minute later the headache started again to the extent that it was difficult for me to turn my neck so I managed it like that for about 3 days but when the aching didn’t stop I had to call my mum to tell her what I was facing so she said to me that I should try and come over to her place, on getting to my mum’s place.

She decided that I have to go to Randle general hospital that I should go and complain there about my health.

Immediately I got to Randle, checking my blood pressure level, it was very high and I was referred to the emergency department for quick response, at the emergency, I was required to do some laboratory tests which I did.

So I was admitted immediately for about 4 days, later the doctor told me to go and redo the same test again at another laboratory center outside the hospital. When the results came out, it was reading that I am having chronic kidney failure.

When I was told about the situation, my entire body was very buttered that I almost run mad.

When my mum came. She was also told the same thing then I was referred to gbagada general hospital for proper treatment and to be seeing a neufrologist that is the specialist doctor for kidney cases.

So I started visiting gbagada hospital for check ups and clinic days. By that time my body have not started noticing it like that nor until late 2024

I started feeling very weak, I don’t sleep at night, I couldn’t eat like that, my entire body was down.

So I tried going back to the hospital at Gbagada, there I was admitted instantly and they started the treatment process, later on, I was told to start dialisys, that I should do five, so I started dialisysing at Gbagada hospital at first It was five. After doing the five, I was told to start another five again .

Making it 10 sessions ater doing the 10th session I was discharged home just to be attending the clinic alone, later I was told at the clinic that I should not stop the dialisys that this time, I have to be doing it twice a week.

Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.

So far now, I have done 23 sessions of dialisys and still counting. As it is now, I don’t work again, I can’t even do anything now, even to move around like before is really difficult because the whole thing have started manifesting I mean my body can’t carry me like before.

I am in very severe pain, the drugs prescribed for me by the doctors are very expensive and they are much all are compulsory for me to buy.

Hmm I pray that God should send me help from above, a miracle is what I am expecting.

This is the little I can say about my state of health now.

0119741433 GT bank account, Hosu Moses sewanu

Or

1229255323 Zenith bank

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JUST IN: Ogun confirms Lassa fever outbreak as NYSC member dies

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A 25-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), has reportedly died of Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in ljebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It wwas learnt that the female corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State, was brought to the health facility last Tuesday and later died same day.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Wednesday.

Coker also confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The statement reads, “Ogun State has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever and as such declared Lassa fever outbreak.

“The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State and was brought to on of our secondary health facility in ljebu North LGA on 18th March 2025 and later died same day.

“ Lassa fever is a viral Haemorrhagic disease that presents with High grade fever, Headache, General body weakness, Sore throat, Muscle pain, Cough, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Chest pain and Unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.

”Coker urged members of the community to report to the hospital if any of the listed symptoms is noticed.

“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms.

Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever!

“We implore all Health facilities in Ogun State, public and private, to step up Infection Prevention and Control measures and to encourage compliance by all health facility staff.“

Healthcare worker that suspects Lassa fever in a patient, are advised to call their local government disease surveillance and notification officer (LGA DSNO) whose numbers are placed in our health facilities or call State Disease surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881),” she added.

The commissioner, however reiterated the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s dedication to protecting the health of the citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.

She added that the ministry in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at ljebu North East is keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilization for effective response.

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