The Federal Government of Nigeria, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are partnering to transform the West and Central Africa’s wheat sector.
Wheat farming in the UK
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank (AfDB), stated this at the second regional wheat Summit 2024 on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, in Abuja.
The theme of the summit is: “Prioritising Policy, Innovative Technologies and Investments in Wheat Transformation towards Sustainable Food Security and Economy in West and Central Africa.”
Adesina, who was represented by Dr Abdul Kamara, Nigeria Country Director AfDB, emphasised the transformative potential of the wheat sector in the region.
He said that appropriate policies, innovative technologies, and strategic investments was required to transform West and Central Africa’s wheat sector.
Adesina said that agriculture technology could help to advance food security in sustainable ways in the region.
He said that, two decades ago, the total consumption of wheat in Africa was around 25 million metric tonnes. This has surged to over 75 million metric tonnes recently.
“Transforming West and Central Africa’s wheat sector offers immense potential for sustainable food security and economic growth.
“This will require appropriate policies, innovative technologies, and strategic investments.
“The use of technology, supported by the right policy environment and investment, no doubt has undoubtedly transformed agricultural productivity in many countries across the globe.
“Similarly, the adoption of technology, when supported by the right policies, can address problems like climate change, limited access to finance among others faced by farmers in West and Central Africa,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said that the summit marked a significant milestone on efforts to enhance wheat production across the West and Central Africa region.
Kyari was represented by Mr Abubakar Abdullahi, Director, Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) Ministry of Agriculture.
“Wheat is not just a staple; it is a vital component of economies, cultures and nutrition.
“The impacts of climate change, shifting agricultural practices, and the global demand for food necessitate that we innovate and adapt.
“Together we can pave the way for enhanced collaboration and strategic partnership that will empower our farmers and strengthen our agricultural systems,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Benjamin Ubi, Regional Coordinator, West Africa Wheat Development Network (WECAWheat), stressed the need for more accurate data collection on wheat production in West and Central Africa.
Dominique Kouacou, the Country Director, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria, called for increased private sector involvement to address wheat production shortfall.
He emphasised that collaboration at scale with the private sector was essential to achieving meaningful results.
Kouacou reiterated the FAO’s commitment to supporting such initiatives in collaboration with governments across the region.
The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has expressed concern about low compliance level with physical planning regulations.
Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide
The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, expressed the concern in a chat with journalists on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, in Lagos.
He said that the ministry would not tolerate people’s reluctance to obtain necessary permits.
Olumide said, “The realities in Lagos regarding physical planning and urban development is not a palatable story.
“We have engaged in small research trying to identify the level of compliance.
“Embarrassingly, the percentage is very, very low, and we are poised to effect a change on that.’’
He said that the realities on the ground were far from ideal.
“While we have made efforts to educate the public and streamline our processes, many individuals remain unaware of the importance of obtaining planning permits before commencing construction.’’
To address the challenges and foster greater understanding, the commissioner announced an upcoming summit on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16.
He said that the event would serve as a platform to review existing operations, enhance communication and increase public awareness about the significance of physical planning.
Olumide said: “We have a summit coming up on Oct. 15 and 16, where we intend to review all our operations.
“However, what we have noticed is that there is a gap in terms of communication, in terms of people’s awareness about exactly what we do.
“Surprisingly, some people do not even know that they need government approval before they commence a building.
“On the side of the government, the system is clearly laid out, the requirements are also clearly laid out. It is just that people do not want to comply.’’
He also said that one of the major obstacles identified in physical planning was reluctance of individuals to provide accurate information during permit application process.
“We have encountered instances where applicants submit misleading details, leading to discrepancies between approved plans and actual construction,’’ he said.
To ensure compliance and prevent future issues, Olumide urged the state residents to consult with qualified town planners who could assist in navigating the permit application process.
He also emphasised availability of district offices across the state, saying that it would make it convenient for residents to access information and services.
Olumide said that the system was straightforward, adding that all an individual would need to provide would be proof of land ownership, architectural drawings, structural plans and other necessary documents.
According to him, by following the guidelines and seeking assistance from professionals, the process can be smooth and efficient.
On the summit, the commissioner said that key stakeholders, including lawyers, developers, chamber of commerce and real estate developers, would gather to discuss strategies for improving physical planning and urban development in Lagos.
He said that the event would feature a keynote address by a former Governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
The official added that there would be presentations from international experts.
Olumide said that the ministry was committed to fostering a more sustainable and well-planned Lagos.
“By engaging with the public, streamlining our processes and promoting compliance, we can create a city that is both vibrant and resilient.’’
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms from Wednesday, October 2, to Saturday, October 5, 2024, across the country.
Thunderstorms
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Tuesday, October 1, in Abuja envisaged thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna states during Wednesday’s morning hours.
According to NiMet, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Bauchi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno and Kebbi states later in the day.
“In the North central region, thunderstorms are envisaged over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Benue states during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
“In the southern region there are prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states during the morning hours,” it said.
According to it, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day.
The agency predicted thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba and Kebbi states in the Thursday morning hours.
It anticipated thunderstorms over parts of Kaduna, Adamawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Taraba, Sokoto and Zamfara states later in the day.
“In the North central region, there are prospect of thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Benue and Nasarawa states during the morning hours.
“While in the afternoon into evening hours, thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, Benue and Nasarawa states.
“In the southern region, thunderstorms are expected over part of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours,” it said.
It envisaged thunderstorms over the entire region later in the day.
According to NiMet, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states in the Friday morning hours.
It forecast patches of clouds with intervals of sunshine over the northern region later in the day.
“In the North central region, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory.
“In the southern region, there are prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Rivers during the morning hours,” it said.
According to it, high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities due to heavy downpours.
“Residents are advised to avoid flood-prone areas as strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, public should take adequate precaution.
“Adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities. Public and Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports and forecast from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website www.nimet.gov.ng,” it said.
Shell has named a new Managing Director for its deep-water subsidiary in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo.) He is Ronald Adams, formerly Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic LNG, Trinidad and Tobago. He takes over from Elohor Aiboni who proceeds on international assignment to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) as Asset Director. Both appointments take effect from Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
Ronald Adams, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo.)
Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Ronald to Nigeria to consolidate and further improve the outstanding performances of SNEPCo in deep-water production and life-changing social investments across Nigeria. I wish to congratulate Elohor for the outstanding deliveries since she took over in August 2021. The assignment in Brunei is another opportunity for excellent contributions to the Shell Group.”
Ronald is a 32-year veteran of the energy industry having successfully guided both Shell operated and non-operated ventures through commercial and technical challenges. He holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of the West Indies and an MBA with a specialisation in Strategic Planning from Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Outside of work, Ron loves to spend time with his family and frequents the gym.
He said: “I’m excited at the opportunity to be part of the success story of SNEPCo and look forward to joining the team of talented staff to deliver even more value to stakeholders.”
Elohor’s tenure as SNEPCo Managing Director has witnessed many milestones, said to be numerous to mention.
She said: “It has been a great honour to work alongside colleagues and external stakeholders in our modest efforts to build a safe, simpler and cost-disciplined business that continues to lead the way in deep-water operations in Nigeria. I’m particularly grateful for the invaluable support and encouragement of our concessionaire and co-venture partners which made the task easier.”
SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deep-water development in 2005 when it began production at Bonga through the 225,000-barrel-per-day-capacity Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel, anchored 120 kilometres offshore in the Gulf of Guinea.
The third Women’s Climate Assembly (WCA) that is set to take place in Saly, Senegal, from October 7 to 11, 2024, will bring together over 120 women activists and community leaders from 12 countries across West and Central Africa to tackle the urgent climate crisis affecting the African continent. It is themed: “African women stand together to defend our land, waters and forests!”
Regional participants at the 2023 Women’s Climate Assembly in Lagos, Nigeria
The 2024 Women’s Climate Assembly aims to strengthen and unify women-led struggles to stop dirty extractives and false solutions to the climate crisis in West and Central Africa and to propose development solutions that centre and support women, their families and their communities to enjoy a decent life and livelihoods in a time of a deepening climate crisis. With the threats facing the Congo Basin and the Amazon, this year’s WCA will be an especially critical organising space for African women and communities ahead of COP29 to be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024.
“We are asking for them to change the system. We cannot live in this climate – everywhere is hot, there is a lot of sickness, we can no longer survive. Our plants are dying, our animals are dying. Our sea level is rising, creating coastal erosion, and taking away our houses. We need to change things and tell them, leave our climate alone!” says Oumou Koulibaly of Senegal.
Africa is said to be living the climate crisis now, with the continent being hit by heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, drying soils, cyclones, storms, locust plagues, flooding, coastal erosion, rising sea levels and other climate-related catastrophes.
Since 2000, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Kenya have been among the hardest-hit countries in the world, even though their emissions are minimal. 2024 has been the hottest on record. The temperature across Africa is projected to be hotter than previously experienced in the recorded past and will rise faster than the global average across most of the continent.
The climate crisis has severe consequences for the African continent, its ecosystems and its peoples, and the frustrating irony is that Africa is grappling with the most impacts of global heating but has contributed the least.
“Women in Africa, who are often the primary caregivers and responsible for securing food and water for their families, face the brunt of climate impacts. Despite these challenges, African women have been at the forefront of critical and resilient responses to the climate crisis. They play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture, community leadership, and biodiversity protection.
“However, their visibility and voices are too often underrepresented in national and international climate policy discussions. This is exemplified by the continued failure of the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of Parties (COPs) to progress real solutions to the climate crisis even as the world burns,” according to the organisers.
“We need to talk to the polluters for the problems they are causing in our communities. Everywhere you turn, there are problems. After maybe six to seven years, you’ll hear about equity, but we are still here.
“We need to wake up and do something as women! When we sit there, they will talk over us. We need to wake up and do something that will bring justice to us,” says Abie Freeman of Liberia.
“The COP negotiations continue to be co-opted and undermined by transnational corporations and their government allies, stymying efforts to ensure that nations that bear historical responsibility for causing and exacerbating the climate crisis commit to urgent action – deeper carbon cuts and full provision for the loss and damage they have caused to peoples around the world who carry the most significant costs of climate heating.”
Last year, the Women’s Climate Assembly produced a declaration, outlining demands for climate justice, reparations and sovereignty for Africa from consultations in over seventy communities across the continent.
They asserted their Right to Say NO to the destruction of their lands and forests, oceans and rivers by so-called “development” projects that harm their ways of life and livelihoods. They also called on polluters to pay meaningful reparations informed by impacted communities for historical and ongoing climate and ecological debt owed to Africa.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has called for the adoption of a circular economy model to effectively manage Nigeria’s solid waste generation, which is projected to be more than 32 million metric tonnes per year.
Participants during the media dialogue hosted by NESREA and the European Union (EU) in Abuja on Thursday, September 26, 2024
This strategy, the agency noted, is important to the country’s long-term development goal because of its unique approach to the use and management of natural resources.
Speaking to participants at a media dialogue organised by NESREA in collaboration with the European Union (EU) in Abuja on Thursday, September 26, 2024, Dr. Innocent Barikor, the agency’s director general, disclosed that the call became necessary because of the model’s significant alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s eight-point agenda, mostly in the areas of economic growth, job creation, food security, and reducing poverty.
According to him, the benefits of the circular economy are already being felt in all sectors where the model has been implemented, assuring Nigerians that the country will soon see substantial reductions in waste management and other forms of pollution across the country.
In light of this, he continued, Nigeria has long embraced this approach, which his organisation is currently putting into enforcement through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative.
“Food and beverages, batteries, electrical/electronics, and used tires are all regulated under the EPR program,” the agency’s boss stated, adding that manufacturers, producers, and importers of these items are all required to join their respective Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) as part of regulatory compliance.
Despite some of the rewards outlined above about the circular economy theory, the DG believes that it’s still very important to raise awareness to help enhance public understanding of this life-changing framework and its contributions to sustainable development. Thus, the discussion on the issue, which he called stakeholders’ attention to, was intended to bridge that knowledge gap, particularly among media members who act as information carriers.
Godfrey Ogbemudia, the EU’s programme manager for Energy, Circular Economy, and Climate Change, revealed in his remarks at the event that the EU is helping NESREA carry out the programme to assist Nigeria in moving away from its current linear economic pathway, which is negatively degrading the environment.
Ogbemudia, like the NESREA’s chieftain perspective, strongly stressed the vital place of civic education in achieving this lofty goal.
“The EU is partnering with NESREA to create awareness on the circular economy because we take it very seriously,” he stated.
When discussing the role of the media in the “Circular Economic Value Chain,” EU facilitator, Mrs. Agharese Onaghise, agreed that the media is a force for change because of its power to influence public opinion through a systematic method of disseminating information.
Consequently, she exhorted the professionals to use their positions to promote the sustainable development agenda by empowering people, educating them, and fostering a culture of ecological stewardship.
The Nepali government decided to provide 200,000 Nepali rupees ($1,497) in compensation to each of the bereaved families, as the death toll from monsoon rain-induced floods and landslides hit 205.
Landslide in Nepal
A three-day national mourning starting from Tuesday, October 1, 2024, was also announced following a cabinet meeting.
“The national flag would be lowered to half-mast during the mourning period,” said Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson.
He said that families who have members missing for more than 10 days in the disasters spelt by incessant rainfalls on Friday and Saturday shall receive the same amount of compensation.
The Nepal cabinet decided to allocate one billion rupees ($7.48 million) to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, Gurung said.
By Monday evening, 24 people remained missing and 130 others were injured, Nepal Police said in a statement, adding “the rescue efforts are ongoing.”
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, pledged to continue its efforts toward sustainable water management to support the nation’s overall development.
NIHSA’s Director General, Mr Umar Mohammed
NIHSA’s Director General, Mr Umar Mohammed, said this in a statement to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day in Abuja.
He reaffirmed commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s water systems and strengthening resilience against climate change, floods, and droughts.
Mohammed noted the importance of water management in fostering national growth, health, and environmental sustainability.
He noted that NIHSA has been actively involved in monitoring the country’s water resources and providing essential data to mitigate the impacts of flooding and other hydrological challenges.
He announced the agency’s plan to implement new measures to address climate-related issues, such as increasing rainfall patterns and extreme weather conditions.
“Our proactive measures will include enhanced monitoring systems, improved drainage infrastructure, and community awareness programmes to better prepare Nigerians for these extreme weather events,” he said.
Mohammed also emphasised the goal of reducing the impact of flooding on vulnerable communities and building greater resilience.
He called for collaboration among government agencies, local communities, and stakeholders to promote water security and environmental sustainability.
Mohammed urged Nigerians to value and protect the country’s natural resources as part of a collective effort to create a more prosperous and resilient nation.
“Together, we can build a stronger future by working hand in hand to secure our natural resources,” he added.
FAO Energy Specialist, Dr Yakaka Maina, says fuel-efficient stoves and charcoal briquettes can reduce fuel consumption by 50 per cent.
The FAO training session
These techniques promote energy savings and environmental sustainability.
Maina disclosed this during an interview at the FAO’s training session for 70 women leaders on fuel-saving techniques and nutrition on Monday, September 30, 2024, in Yola, Adamawa State.
The training, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, targeted Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states to enhance food security and nutrition in the North-East.
Maina highlighted that the training equipped participants with fuel-saving techniques, including using less fuel, maximising heat transfer, and minimising energy loss during cooking.
“It also includes using lids to reduce heat loss and cooking time, steaming vegetables instead of boiling to conserve nutrients, and pre-soaking foods like beans and legumes to save time and fuel.
“Additionally adapting charcoal briquettes, which are clean-burning, cost-effective, and reduce harmful emissions.”
Maina emphasised that fuel-saving techniques and nutrition education were crucial in addressing food security, health, and environmental sustainability challenges.
She noted that traditional cooking methods using firewood lead to nutrient loss, reduced nutritional value, and harmful indoor pollution contributing to respiratory illnesses.
She said that by adopting these techniques, communities could enjoy a better environment, improved nutrition, and a higher quality of life.
This initiative, she said, was part of the “Emergency Agriculture-Based Livelihoods Sustenance for Improved Food Security and Nutrition” programme in Nigeria’s North-East geopolitical zone.
The recent confirmation of two new Mpox cases in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area by Cross River Epidemiologist, Mrs Inyang Ekpenyong, has brought the total number of reported cases in Nigeria to 1,136 since 2017.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare
This development has raised concerns about the spread of the disease, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a rare and infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
It is primarily spread through close contact with infected animals or people and can also be transmitted through contaminated surfaces and materials.
Experts say the disease has been reported in 19 African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo as the epicentre, accounting for over 95 per cent of cases.
Nigeria has experienced recurrent Mpox outbreaks since 2017, with 4,685 suspected cases and 17 deaths reported as of August 25, 2024.
The Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) has urged the federal and state governments to intensify financial investment and surveillance response to the disease outbreak.
The NIDS in a statement issued in Abuja by Professors Dimie Ogoina and Mukhtar Adeiza its president and secretary said as of Aug. 28 Mpox has killed 630 persons cross 19 African countries.
It said the figure represents a 160 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The society said of concern was the emergence of a new sexually transmissible strain, referred to as clade Ib emerging.
From different parts of the country the disease is spreading. The number of those infected is rising.
Mr Samuel Etuk, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health, says the state, at the time of filing this report, had recorded five cases.
Etuk said in Uyo, the state capital, that the state government had earlier announced four outbreaks.
He said that a total of 30 samples were collected across different local government areas for diagnosis, and that four of them tested positive to Mpox.
“Four cases were confirmed, three of them are male, and one female, they are aged two, four, 12 and 41 years respectively,” he said.
“This confirmation was by the Breakthrough Action Nigeria in collaboration with the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme.
“We have another positive case of Mpox, this latest case brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to five,” he said.
Etuk said that contact tracing for any transmission was being conducted while the affected persons had been kept in isolation.
The disease surveillance officer said that 10 community-based informants had been engaged to work in catchment areas.
“They will be reporting to the health facility focal person who will communicate with the local government disease surveillance and notification office.
“The full report will later be submitted to the state ministry of health for prompt actions,” he said.
The officer said that Mpox could be prevented by avoiding contacts with infected persons or animals.
The World Health Organisation has declared Mpox a global public health emergency, and an international concern in Africa.
Dr Francis Sanwo, said reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission, surveillance and rapid identification of new cases are critical to addressing the challenges posed by Mpox.
Sanwo is the Managing Director of Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Hospital, Ibadan.
Oluyoro said in Ibadan that there should be standard infection control measures for health workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Mpox virus infection.
“If possible, persons previously vaccinated against smallpox should be selected to care for the patient,” he said.
The physician advised that patients with the disease should physically isolate themselves until all of the pox lesions had healed, while caregivers should obtain a smallpox vaccination.
“This because smallpox and Mpox are so closely related, studies have suggested that people vaccinated against smallpox have about an 85 per cent chance of being protected from Mpox.
“Although vaccination against smallpox was protective in the past, today persons younger than 40 to 50 years of age, depending on the country, may be more susceptible to Mpox.
“This is due to cessation of smallpox vaccination campaigns globally after eradication of the disease.
“Patients with depressed immune systems and those who are allergic to latex or smallpox vaccines should not get the smallpox vaccine.
“Anyone else who has been exposed to Mpox in the past 14 days should get the smallpox vaccine, including children under one year of age, pregnant women, and people with skin conditions,” he said.
Sanwo said that clinical care for Mpox should be fully optimised to alleviate symptoms, manage complications and prevent long-term sequelae.
He said patients should be offered fluids and food to maintain adequate nutritional status while secondary bacterial infections should be treated as indicated.
“An antiviral agent known as tecovirimat that was developed for smallpox was licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Mpox in 2022, based on data in animal and human studies.
“But it is not yet widely available,” the medical expert said.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has advocated urgent action to increase access to Mpox vaccines and to prioritise public health over profits to ensure health security.
Dr Echey Ijezie, AHF’s Nigeria’s Country Programme Director was quoted by the media as saying that the recent Mpox outbreak posed a serious health threat in Africa.
He said that there was the need for urgent global action to address vaccine inequity which had hampered the continent’s ability to respond effectively.
“The Africa Health Founder (Nigeria) is calling on governments, international organisations, and pharmaceutical companies to prioritise public health over profits.
“This is not just about Mpox or Africa; it is about global health security. Inequity anywhere is a threat to health everywhere,” he said.
IJezie raised concerns over the current response to the Mpox outbreak, which he said mirrored the inequalities witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, therefore, urged Western countries and Japan to expedite the donation of Mpox vaccines to Africa.
He also called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fast-track the approval of other viable vaccine options.
“We started our push for equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where we saw the devastating impact of vaccine hoarding on African nations.
“Now, we are seeing similar challenges play out with Mpox.
The WHO declared Mpox a global health emergency on 14th August 2024, which spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact, and symptoms included rashes and lesions on the skin.
Experts say Africa’s severe Mpox outbreak, driven primarily by the new clade Ib variant, is particularly deadly for children.
Africa wide, it has impacted at least 13 countries, with more than 22,800 confirmed cases and more than 620 deaths reported this year.
To prevent the spread of Mpox, health authorities recommended enhanced surveillance, intensify contact tracing, listing, and monitoring, educating the public on the risks and modes of transmission.
They also recommended administering Mpox vaccine doses to high-risk populations and implementing hand hygiene and infection control measures in healthcare settings.
