EKPOMA – following the outbreak of MPox in Edo State, the State Government has collaborated with Nigerian Red Cross Society, Edo State Branch to tackle the scourge, with a view to preventing its spread.
100 Red Cross volunteers are currently undergoing Capacity Building training to equip them with the requisite skills and techniques that would enable them to respond adequately and curtail its spread.
The Edo State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer from the Edo State Ministry of Health, Okuo Mercy Onize said the objective of the training was to build the capacity of Red Cross Volunteers on Mpox to enable them know the mode of transmission of Mpox and equip with ability to detect cases on time.
She explained that the training was to enhance their knowledge about the disease so that when they were deployed to the field, they will be able to actively detect suspected cases of Mpox, which will help the state government to tackle the disease.
She disclosed that the training was happening in Esan West because the local government had recorded the Mpox case.
“This training is meant to strengthen timely detection and intervention aimed at tackling the disease. What we are here to do is to enhance the knowledge of volunteers so that by the time they are deployed to the field they will be able to actively detect suspected cases of Mpox from which the state will take it up”, she said.
The Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Edo State Branch, Mr. Wilson Ekhomogiazin said thay the 2-day Mpox response training workshop was geared towards building the capacity of the selected volunteers in places where confirmed cases had been recorded.
He revealed that a total of 100 community volunteers for risk communication and surveillance will be deployed for the assignment, 50 each in Esan West and Uhunmwonde Local Government Areas
“The overall essence of the training workshop is to build the capacity of the selected volunteers where we have recorded confirmed cases. We will be deploying 50 community volunteers for risk communication and surveillance in Esan West, and another 50 volunteers for risk communication and surveillance in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area”, he explained.
He commended the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the Nigerian Red Cross Society for supporting Edo State with Mpox response through sponsorship.
A consultant dermatologist from the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH). Dr. Sabastine Oiwoh who was one of the resource persons at training, revealed that Nigeria had so far recorded 67 confirmed cases of Mpox in 2024, out of which five were from Edo State.
He explained that Mpox was a viral infection of the skin that affects other organs of the body, which could be contacted from animals or through contact with an infected persons, adding that it presents with rashes on the face and other parts of the body in affected persons or animals.
He said the group of people at risk were children, pregnant women, crowded population, health workers, and those that have had previous rash of the skin.
The World Health Organisation coordinator in Edo State, Dr. Nora Eyo enjoined participants at the training programme to use the opportunity provided by the Mpox response exercise to integrate other disease and watch out for other priority disease such as Acute Flastic Paralysis (AFP), Yellow fever Measles, small box and the likes and report them to DSNO for appropriate action.
