Recently, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of #Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, stated that there are about 39 confirmed cases of Mpox across the country. Rivers State was listed amongst the affected states with two confirmed cases.
This is a summary of Rivers State's response to the ongoing Mpox emergency. Read the full update by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, on X (Twitter) - https://rb.gy/jwsnxd
▶️The Rivers State Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) is coordinating the state's Mpox response. Our comprehensive Incident Action Plan is in place to guide our Mpox response.
▶️Ad-hoc staff have been engaged and trained to bolster our response capacity across all levels of healthcare delivery.
▶️All infection prevention and control (IPC) facility focal persons have been directed to maintain a high index of suspicion in their facilities.
▶️Active searches have commenced across all LGAs. Tracking teams have been mobilised to identify, manage, and monitor both exposed contacts and exposed contacts to confirmed cases.
▶️We have trained key officers in surveillance, laboratory, and case management to bridge any knowledge gaps within our response chain, and community informants in all wards to swiftly identify and report potential Mpox cases.
▶️Home management teams across the LGAs are available to support those on self-isolation.
▶️Infectious disease units at both the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital are fully equipped to handle Mpox cases requiring specialized care.
▶️Guidelines for the recognition and treatment of Mpox are being distributed across health facilities in the state.
▶️We are working towards upgrading our state's PCR laboratories to enable local diagnosis.
▶️Our state medical ambulance service is on standby for rapid patient transport between locations, and we have pre-positioned vital commodities at facilities, entry ports and designated isolation and treatment centres.
▶️A capacity-building session on building awareness, developing capacity and fostering a supportive environment will be planned for all health workers across the state.
▶️All health facilities have been instructed to strictly adhere to existing IPC protocols.
▶️The Safe Burial Team is available to provide clear guidelines and protocols on how Mox-infected deceased should be buried while maintaining privacy and avoiding stigma.
▶️Data collection is ongoing to determine the pattern of spread and the behaviour of this ongoing Mpox strain.
#Mpox2024
#MpoxAwareness
#RiversState
#Health4AllRivers