News
No Death Recorded As Nigeria Registers 49 Mpox Cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that as of December 23, the country registered 49 confirmed cases and no new death from Monkeypox (Mpox) cases.
The NCDC, via its official website, yesterday, said that this was a nine per cent increase in the number of new confirmed cases when compared to the last report.
Monkeypox has now been renamed Mpox to avoid the racist and stigmatising language used for the disease that originated in Africa.
Mpox caused alarm when it spread worldwide earlier this year.
While cases have reduced, experts warn this is not the time for complacency.
The public health agency said that the cumulative case in the country is 753 confirmed and seven deaths with a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of one per cent were reported from 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
The NCDC said that the country has been witnessing a rise in Mpox cases, noting that the agency is ramping up control measures to curb the transmission of the virus.
It said that this includes community sensitisation, which is essential to ensure early detection and notification of the disease.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it’s supporting the national efforts to bolster disease surveillance, case investigations, laboratory testing and public awareness of Mpox.
Mpox, a virus with symptoms like those of long-eradicated smallpox, although less severe, has been present in Nigeria since 2017.
As of December 23, 2022, 83,483 confirmed cases of Mpox and 275 deaths were reported from 110 countries/territories globally.
The countries reporting the majority of cases are mainly Europe and the Americas.
Since the beginning of 2022, the African continent has reported 1,215 confirmed cases and 219 deaths CFR: 18per cent of Mpoxfrom eight endemic Africa Union, Member States.
“These were Benin (3 confirmed cases; 0 confirmed deaths), Cameroon (18; 3), CAR (8; 2), Congo (5; 3), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (277; 198), Ghana (116; 4), Liberia (4; 0), Nigeria (753; 7) and five non-endemic countries – Egypt (4; 0), Morocco (3; 0), Mozambique (1; 1), South Africa (5; 0) and Sudan (18; 1).
In the review week, 59 new confirmed cases in the West African region with no new deaths of Mpox were reported from Ghana (9 cases; 0 deaths), Liberia (1; 0) and Nigeria (49; 0).
Meanwhile, despite Africa having countries that are endemic for Mpox, they have had virtually no access to the vaccines, or to smallpox vaccines that had previously been used to protect against Mpox.
Africa only just received its first batch of Mpox vaccine as a donation from South Korea a few weeks ago, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Some experts have said that this is a critical time to suppress the epidemic by rolling out the vaccine in an equitable way.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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