BENIN CITY — The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has concluded plans to roll out Monkeypox (MPox) vaccination in six Local Government Areas across the State.
The targeted areas, selected based on recent surveillance data, include Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Ovia North East, and Oredo in Edo South Senatorial District, as well as Esan North East and Esan West in Edo Central.
The Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the EDSPHCDA, Dr. Efeomo Eseigbe, who made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, said that the exercise would cover persons aged 18 years and above, with a focus on healthcare workers, immunocompromised individuals, internally displaced persons, those living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable groups
“These people will receive two doses of the vaccine within a four-week interval,” Dr. Eseigbe said, adding that vaccines remain a critical tool in curbing the spread of infectious diseases.
He further listed other diseases currently manifesting in Edo State to include Dengue fever, Yellow fever, Lassa fever, and Diphtheria.
Speaking at the meeting, the State Health Educator and Social and Behavioral Change Officer for the IMPACT Plus Project, Irene Uabor, said that the session was organized to raise awareness and mobilize key stakeholders ahead of the MPox vaccination campaign.
She noted that traditional rulers, religious leaders, and representatives of vulnerable groups were present and urged them to disseminate the campaign message to their communities.
UNICEF’s representative in Edo State, Suleiman Yakubu, explained that the MPox vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, but has proven effective due to the genetic similarities between the two viruses.
Yakubu emphasized that MPox is transmissible through contact with infected persons or animals and poor hygiene.
He listed key preventive measures to include frequent hand washing, safe disposal of contaminated materials, avoiding contact with sick or dead animals, properly cooking meat, and following local health guidelines.
He also advised the use of condoms for up to 12 weeks after recovery from the disease as a precautionary measure.
Also speaking, the Edo State Coordinator of the WHO, Dr. Nora Eyo, revealed that Nigeria is the first country to receive the vaccine, which has been certified safe by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
She encouraged residents, particularly those in the affected LGAs to protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved clothing and complying with other preventive guidelines.
