The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders to deploy proactive measures to tackle monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria.
CITAD’s Coordinator on Public Education Vaccine, Hamza Ibrahim, noted that 21 cases of the virus had been recorded in eight states, with one person confirmed dead.
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Ibrahim called on NCDC to review the National Monkeypox Public Health Response Guidelines of 2019 for proper detection, reporting and action against the disease.
He said, “The detection of the virus ought to be an alarm for particularly the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). We want to, at this point, strongly call on the centre to deploy active observatory mechanisms across the federation with a view to containing further spread of the virus.
“The experience brought by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be forgotten, as such the case confirmation of monkeypox in the country should be treated with public health urgency and expertise to contain it.
“In doing so, we recommend that NCDC reviews its National Monkeypox Public Health Response Guidelines of 2019 to reflect deepening synergy with state governments in responding to suspected cases for proper detection, reporting and communication for quick action.”
He further called for close collaboration between states and NCDC to enlighten the public on the virus.
He also urged the federal government to ensure strict monitoring of Nigeria’s borders to checkmate transmission of the disease.
