Following the confirmation of an index case of Monkey Pox in Kwara State last week, the Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Health and relevant health care partners has commenced sensitization programme on the new infectious disease at Lafiagi, headquarters of Edu Local Government Area.
The efforts of the response team aimed at sensitizing the people of the community was believed to have recorded a huge success as at the time of filing this report.
The Medical team of the State Ministry of Health led by the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), Dr. Fatimah Lah, was accompanied by the representative of the World Health Organization, AFENET and other resident health partners in the state.
The Community response, which was adjudged incredibly accommodating with a massive turnout, enabled the team to educate various sections of the community including opinion leaders, title holders, religious leaders, women, children and young adults on the causes, symptoms, and precautionary measures towards protecting themselves against the infectious disease.
The team laid specific emphasis on the importance of early presentation at any health facility so that appropriate help is obtained, adding that necessary information could be sent to relevant authorities to provide medications to support their care.
The Medical team used the opportunity to do necessary contact tracing by taking samples from suspected members and identified contacts in the community and other neighbouring villages.
The visiting team further commended the Edu Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification team and charged them to remain in the response mode and give necessary update to the headquarters.
Speaking at the event held at the Emir’s Palace, the Chief Imam of Lafiagi, Alh. Jubril Ndaman prayed God to take over the affairs of the community and help them to avert calamities of different types from their midst, the whole of Kwara, Nigeria and the world at large. The Emir of Lafiagi was represented by the Mayaki of Lafiagi, Alhaji Aliyu Mayaki.
It is recalled that a Nigerian driver, who has been under critical care and observation in Edu Local Government, was later confirmed positive of Monkey pox after a laboratory test conducted on the index case.
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