The World Health Organisation (WHO), says  said  the Mpox upsurge has continued to meet the criteria of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) set forth in the International Health Regulations (IHR).

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said this in a statement.

Ghebreyesus said  the announcement followed the fourth meeting of the IHR emergency committee regarding the upsurge of mpox, held on June 5.

According to him, the committee, recognising progress in the capacity to respond in certain countries, advised the WHO boss that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC.

He said that it was based on the continuing rise in number of cases, including a recent increase in West Africa, and likely ongoing undetected transmission in some countries beyond the African continent

“Ongoing operational challenges in responding to the event, including concerning surveillance and diagnostics, as well as a lack of funding, make prioritising response interventions challenging and require continued international support,” he said.

Ghebreyesus concurred with the committee’s advice and issued the committee’s revised temporary recommendations to Member States experiencing mpox outbreaks.

He said  the recommendations will guide countries’ efforts to prevent and control spread of the disease.

According to him, the full report of the fourth meeting will be issued in the third week of June.

“The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries was first determined to be PHEIC by Ghebreyesus on Aug. 14, 2024.

“Since then, the  committee has met on three additional occasions, each time, advising the director general that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC,” he said (NAN)

Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday in Enugu, distributed 10,000 Professional Kits for midwives in South-East aimed improving healthcare delivery in the zone.

Flagging-Off the programme during her two-day official visit to Enugu State , the president’s wife said the distribution were for midwives in the Southeast States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi Enugu and Imo.

According to her, the event is to complement the ongoing Federal Government retraining of health workers to improve healthcare of Nigerians.

The programme was part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) aimed at improving the healthcare of Nigerians especially the vulnerable groups.

She said, “This is a training for 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide.

“In view of this, RHI procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs as an incentive to encourage health workers”.

She added that, “Since the initial launch of RHI in January 2025, we have distributed 50,000 scrubs and pairs of crocs to five geopolitical zones, namely North Central, North East, North West, South South and the Southwest.

“Today, we are in Enugu to distribute the remaining 10,000, each of the crocs and scrubs”.

She explained that the donation towards it had been made possible through the general support of Anonymous Global Partners, dedicated towards achieving health outcomes for Nigeria citizens.

The first lady said that the donors were committed to supporting the Organisation of the African First Ladies for Development and the health sector in Nigeria and across the world with a specific focus on reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.

“Tuesday by the grace of God, I will be launching the “Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign” for HIV, AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in Enugu.

“This initiative aims to promote healthier mothers, reduce new HIV infections amongst mothers of reproductive age.

“ It will also eliminate mothers through child transmission of HIV, AIDS, which is the vertical transmission and provide treatment for children born with HIV,” Tinubu said.

She said the RHI would be presenting an additional grant of N50 million to the First Lady of Enugu State, with a sum of N50,000 each to 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State to recapitalize their existing businesses.

In her welcome address, the Wife of Enugu Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, appreciated Tinubu for her commitment in building an inclusive society through RHI.

She said the initiative had significantly impacted countless lives across the nation’s diverse geopolitical zones.

“Your noble endeavour has brought succour and hope to communities that have long yearned for such intervention. Here in Enugu State, we are profoundly grateful for the transformative outcomes of RHI.

“Midwives are at the frontiers of maternal and child health. Empowering these important healthcare workers is crucial to the push to reduce maternal and under- five mortality rates radically,” Mbah said.

Tinubu also inaugurated the state-of-the-art Technical, Vocational Education, and Training College (GTC), Enugu.(NAN) 

The Kwara State Government has urged residents to prioritize oral hygiene by maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other tissues in the mouth.

Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin during the opening ceremony of a three-day free oral health outreach.

The outreach was organized by the state government in partnership with Pharma Deko PLC.

Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, the commissioner described oral health as a vital but often overlooked aspect of overall healthcare.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving oral health across the state, stressing that it was a key component of general wellbeing.

“Oral health is the cornerstone of overall health, yet it is often neglected.

“Poor oral hygiene contributes to several non-communicable diseases, though its effects are gradual and often unnoticed until they become serious,” she said.

El-Imam commended the recent renovation and equipping of the state’s dental clinic and encouraged residents to take full advantage of the outreach by accessing free dental checks and receiving professional guidance on oral hygiene.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Pharma Deko PLC, Mr Ishola Olukayode, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting oral health in Nigeria.

He warned that many people unknowingly use harmful substances on their teeth due to a lack of awareness, putting their health at risk.

Olukayode stressed that oral hygiene extended beyond brushing, highlighting the importance of regular professional check-ups and community education.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Kasali Ajao, noted that brushing alone addressed only about 40 per cent of oral hygiene needs.

He recommended professional procedures such as scaling and polishing at least twice a year for comprehensive oral care.(NAN)