By AMAWU Cletus Albert Amawu.
MPOX: C’RIVER MINISTRY OF HEALTH, NIGERIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS ON PREVENTION, SPREAD AND CONTROL OF DISEASE.
Cross River State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Cross River State Branch engaged Stakeholders in a one day Town Hall Meeting today, 18 February 2025, at the Keves Inn and Suites, Calabar, to sensitise the public on MPOX prevention, spread and control.
The Objectives of the meeting was to provide updates thus far, share ideas on how to mitigate it’s spread, prevention, control and synergise for urgency in coordination response, and have feedback from the field on the myths and misconception. MPOX, formerly called monkeypox is a disease caused by virus, in the same family of smallpox, and it’s zoonetic in transmission and treated symptomatically.
Speaking on behalf of the Government, Dr. Ekpo, Ekpo the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, said the Town Hall Meeting underscores Government interest to partner Stakeholders in creating awareness and educating the populace on personal hygiene approach to curb public health emergency by providing adequate information on method to prevent any public health disease, disabuse misconception, and educate the people, especially in the rural Areas through sensitisation.
“It is no news that, we all are aware of the Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu commitment to public health and safety of the citizens. Hence, provision of the required, necessary facility and man power of health management.
Dr. Ekpo used the opportunity to thank the Nigerian Red Cross for all the do and have done in emergency, trainings and provision of required information where necessary as he pledges Government continues support and partnership with the Red Cross Society.
Speaking earlier, both Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, the State Epidemiologist and Mrs. Bridget Nakanda, the State Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Officer spoke extensively on MPOX spread, signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment.
On spread, it can be contacted through direct contact with the rash or body fluids from a person infected with MPOX, respiratory droplets of someone infected, touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding of towels) and surfaces that have been used by someone infected with MPOX and contact with a sick animal.
Signs and symptoms includes: headache, fever, muscle and back aches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, weakness and rash containing pus or fluid on any part of the body including hands, face, feet and genitals; While symptoms can take 5 to 21 days for signs and symptoms of MPOX to appear after exposure to the virus.
MPOX according to the duo can be prevented in numerous ways that include: avoid close contact with people who are infected, do not share cups, utensils, bedding or objects with infected person, cook all animal meats and products properly before eating, avoid contact with blood or body fluids from infected person, avoid contact with sick or dead animals, and if possible, isolate people infected with MPOX away from others until they have recovered and their rash has healed.
MPOX treatment is through medical care at healthcare facilities and treated symptomatically and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved vaccines for emergency use.
They both advocated support for friends, family and Community members who has MPOX. Hence, they should encourage anyone with signs and symptoms to visit healthcare facility, they should not be stigmatized, and be welcome and supported having recovered from the disease.
Those are higher risk to contacting MPOX are Caregivers and partners of those infected with MPOX, Health care workers (Human life, Animal life and Wild life) and others who care for patients, Traditional healers and People with low and weakened immunity.
Available records through the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)/Surveillance activities for the Mpox monitoring in Cross River State, provides that in 2024, 157 suspected cases was recorded and 14, confirmed in 5, Local Government Areas in South, as most prevalent and so far in 2025, 18, suspected cases are documented and nil confirm.
Partners like Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) Doctors Beyond Borders (MFS) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) have been very supportive.
