The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the need for $87.4 million over the next six months to collaborate with countries, partners, and stakeholders to control the ongoing Mpox outbreak, News About Nigeria reports.
In a statement released on Tuesday, WHO outlined that the funds will support the implementation of critical activities detailed in the recently launched Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP).
The SPRP, released on August 26, serves as a comprehensive framework guiding the global response to Mpox, focusing on key areas such as surveillance, research, equitable access to medical countermeasures, and community empowerment.
WHO stated that the funds will be utilised across its headquarters, regional, and country offices to coordinate responses, provide technical assistance, manage operations, and deliver essential medical supplies.
The organisation urged donors to swiftly provide the necessary funding to prevent further spread and protect those at risk.
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 40 cases of Mpox, according to its Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris.
Speaking at a joint NCDC/WHO national briefing in Abuja, Idris disclosed that these cases were confirmed out of 830 suspected cases, with no reported fatalities.
To combat the outbreak, an emergency operations centre and incident management system have been established since Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.
However, Idris noted the need to expand laboratory testing capacity, with current facilities located at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the African Centre for Genomics.
“We have developed an incident action plan targeting various areas, and we’ve engaged with state governments to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capabilities,” Idris stated.
He also mentioned that the 40 confirmed cases are spread across 12 to 13 states, with significant clusters in the South-South and South-East regions, as well as Lagos and Ogun states.
The NCDC plans to focus on these areas to reduce case numbers and conduct active surveillance to detect additional cases.
