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The Director of Health and Care at the Nigerian Red Cross, Dr Mannir Jega, has said Nigeria is grappling with a rising number of Mpox cases, with 108 confirmed cases reported across 27 states.
Speaking at a training programme for health workers drawn from 15 states of the federation in Kaduna, on Wednesday, Jega stressed that the situation demanded urgent attention.
“Mpox is a critical public health issue affecting our nation and the world.
“The Mpox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by both the World Health Organisation and the Africa CDC,” he warned.
Jega also highlighted that Bayelsa State has the highest number of Mpox cases, while the North Central region has the highest cases within northern Nigeria.
He noted that the Nigerian Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, has activated a robust response plan to combat the outbreak.
He added that the training programme aimed to equip health workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond effectively to the outbreak.
The director said a similar training had already been conducted in 17 states, noting that the training included participants from Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Edo, and other states.
“We trained them with the necessary skills and knowledge on how to respond effectively to the outbreak,” he said.
He further revealed that a preparedness plan was being developed for the northern region, to reduce disease transmission and protect vulnerable populations in low-burden states.
“The latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reveal 108 confirmed Mpox cases out of 1,395 suspected cases this year, spanning 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“While we are fortunate that no fatalities have been recorded thus far, we must act decisively to prevent further spread and mitigate its impact,” he stressed.
