25,318 suspected cases of monkey pox, including 1,204 deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the declaration of monkey pox outbreak in December 2022.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

According to the latest report, the outbreak, which was declared by the DRC Health Ministry on Dec.

Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 5,133 suspected cases, including 321 deaths, have been reported, according to the WHO report. It warns that the current situation of the outbreak in the DRC is of “grave concern” due to the sustained increase in suspected cases compared to previous years.

It added that with a significant burden in younger populations, particularly children under 15 years of age, who constitute the majority of both suspected cases and deaths.

In April 2024, a high-level emergency regional meeting on monkey pox in Africa was convened in DRC capital Kinshasa, gathering 12 health ministers of regional countries, aiming to develop common strategies to prevent and intervene effectively in the face of monkey pox in Africa.

“We must prevent the DRC from becoming the source of cross-border transmission, and our partnership must prioritise the health of those affected,’’ said Jean Kaseya, the director general of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) at the meeting.

“Over the years, monkey pox has become a real public health problem for our communities in the DRC, a regional threat and ultimately a global problem.

“We must now mobilise to resolve this crisis,” said Roger Kamba, DRC minister of public health, hygiene and prevention, said at the meeting.

Monkey pox, first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958, is assumed to be transmitted from wild animals such as rodents to people or from human to human (Xinhua/NAN)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of dire consequences if Israel goes ahead with an impending military operation in Rafah.

The planned push into the southern border city of Rafah would lead to “a bloodbath,” the organization wrote on X, formerly twitter on Saturday

The WHO said that more than 1.

“A new wave of displacement would exacerbate overcrowding, further limiting access to food, water, health and sanitation services, leading to increased disease outbreaks, worsening levels of hunger, and additional loss of lives.

According to the WHO, only 33  per cent of Gaza’s 36 hospitals and 30 per cent of primary health care Centre’s were functional in some capacity amid repeated attacks and shortages of vital medical supplies, fuel, and staff.

WHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the removal of the obstacles to the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance into and across Gaza, at the scale that is required.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to launch an offensive in Rafah to eliminate the remaining strongholds of Hamas.

The organisation said that although Israel’s allies have repeatedly urged caution, as a large majority of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have fled to the south during the war. (dpa/NAN)

Dr. Ayodele Ogunkeyede, a Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgeon with Hafar Al-batin Central Hospital, Hafar Albatin, Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia, has developed novel compression therapy for sickle cell anemia chronic leg ulcers.

The compression therapy involves applying a special bandage on to squeeze and compress out stagnant blood from the legs and thereby allowing blood to flow better.

This process accelerates healing, so wounds that never healed are made to heal within weeks.

Speaking in an interview session with newsmen in Ilorin, Ogunkeyede explained that development was through extensive research and innovative thinking

The surgeon said that he developed a pioneering technique utilizing compression therapy in 2015.

Ayodele, who is also a distinguished fellow of West African College of Surgeons of plastic surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, said that the procedure has offered a ray of hope to those afflicted by this challenging condition.

According to him, ulcers that once took years to heal can now be resolved within a mere three to six months due to this innovative approach.

He pointed out that the cost of the bandages was very high, but with his intervention, of manufacturing and importing the bandages, the cost was now affordable.

Ogunkeyede explained that his passion in the field had been his motivation in the innovation in the field of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) treatment.

“As both a leading surgeon and a pivotal member of the central working committee for the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation, I have dedicated my career to advancing treatment strategies and improving outcomes for SCD patients worldwide,” he said.

Ogunkeyede explained that the treatment
had revolutionized the healing process of
of chronic leg ulcers, which is a debilitating complication that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life.

The expert noted that the groundbreaking work had been disseminated through publications in prestigious scientific journals and presentations at esteemed conferences including, the Sickle Cell Disease American Association’s 2018 annual conference.

“Studies also involves patients suffering from chronic leg ulcers in SCD, gathering invaluable insights that have informed and shaped treatment protocols.

“It also include empowering caregivers and ensuring the widespread adoption of effective treatment strategies,” he said.

Ogunkeyede disclosed that many healthcare givers in Nigeria were equipped and trained on how to administer compression therapy technique effectively, thus ensuring that patients receive optimal care and support.

The surgeon stated that people living with SCD, continue to motivate his drive and passion to drive efforts and continue to inspire hope to transform the lives of countless individuals afflicted by this challenging condition.

He added that he frequently dedicate his time to free-treatment of indigent people with SCD in Nigeria. (NAN)