Somaliland has Taken Measures to Prevent Monkeypox
As the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the Mpox outbreak in parts of Africa as a global health emergency, scientists from the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa) CDC) also said that they are concerned about the speed of the spread of the new type of Monkey Pox (Mpox).
The meeting was attended by the officials of the Ministry of Health, especially the Emergency Situations Committee of the Somaliland Ministry of Health.
The meeting aims to make the public aware of the health situation even though the disease has not been seen in Somaliland, but since the world has been declared a health emergency, people should be made aware of the disease and how to be careful.
What are the health measures that Somaliland will implement ?
Director General of the Ministry of Health of Somaliland Dr. Mohamed Abdi Xergeye, who told the BBC, said that one of the measures they have taken is to share with the community the disease, its symptoms, if those symptoms are seen, what a person should do. Other measures taken by the Ministry of Health of Somaliland include the ordering of diagnostic equipment, which is placed at the border points of entry into Somaliland, and the testing of those who are found to be ill.
In order to carry out these health measures, the director said that they are conducting medical training for health workers so that they can learn how to deal with this new or previously unknown disease in the world. if any cases are seen, the different departments of emergency responses will be mobilized in the country.
Among the symptoms that can be recognized for this disease are “fat pimples coming out of the body and sometimes with discharge, feeling a great deal of weakness, and having high fever, back pain, muscle pain, and headache.” said Dr. Mohamed Abdi Xergeye, Director General of the Somaliland Ministry of Health, added that anyone who sees these symptoms should notify the Ministry of Health or the nearest health center.
Director Xergeeye said in response to a question about how they are making sure those entering the country are not infected: “We are trying to prepare forms for the committee to register the people with or suspected of the disease, and through these forms available at the border crossings we intending to capture their destinations as well as personal details, after going through a quick triaging at the border entry points,”
The global concern of Monkeypox
The African Union Center for Disease Control (CDC) has officially declared a new type of Monkeypox virus (Mpox) a public health emergency. This warning about Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, marks an important new phase in the continent’s response to the disease.
A panel of experts unanimously supported the decision. The virus is spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with experts saying it is a different strain than the most dangerous they have seen.
However, in this year, cases have surged significantly with Mpox being reported in at least 16 African countries. At the end of July the CDC reported a total of 37,583 cases since the beginning of 2022 with 1,451 deaths reported in 15 African Union countries.
The AfCDC warns that this is getting out of hand and has requested more vaccinations. “This is not just an African issue, Mpox is a global threat, a threat that knows no borders, race, or creed,” said ACDC Director General Jean Kaseya.
Declaring a public health emergency will help governments coordinate their actions and potentially increase the flow of medical supplies and aid to affected areas.
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