From. Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Communities in Borno have promised to adopt measures to prevent the outbreak of Monkeypox, Cholera and other health emergencies as the World Health Organisation (WHO) steps up sensitisation campaigns and health emergency responses in the state.
Suspected cases of Monkeypox, a rare viral disease, have been reported in neighbour Adamawa State, promoting the WHO to step up sensitisation campaigns in three local governments of Borno to prepare the people to prevent its and cholera outbreak.
A community leader at Bulumkutu, a sprawling area in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, Malam Bala Mohammed, said the people in the area have resolved to embrace preventive measures and adopt health emergency response.
“This sensitisation campaign is good, we have embraced it. On our part, we are mobilising our women and men to accept this awareness project because it is good it is for our health,” he stated.
WHO said the sensitisation will be done at Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere and Konduga local governments, particularly in hard-to-reach areas for 30 days.
WHO Northeast Health Emergency Manager, Dr Richard Lako, assured the organisation would continue to support Borno State.
“The world health organisation would continue to support the Borno state ministry of health to ensure enough awareness is enhanced on the prevention of epidemic-prone diseases. Including awareness of Monkeypox, cholera, and COVID-19,” he disclosed.
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He said the team, tagged community health champions, is also engaging with communities to avail themselves of COVID-19 vaccination.
“It remains important that no individual should be left out from receiving their covid-19 vaccination,” he said.
Four suspected cases of Monkeypox were reported in Gwoza and Biun, according to the state ministry of health.
Monkeypox is a virus which belongs to the family PoxRide occurring in humans.