A person infected by monkey pox

By Richard Elesho

The Kebbi State Government has intensified its campaigns against Monkey pox in order to protect its citizenry from the disease. The state directed medical and health workers in the 21 local government councils of the state and relevant agencies to step up surveillance over the disease.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Permanent Sectary in the state Ministry of Heath, Hajiya Halima Dikko made this known in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

“We have informed all the local governments to designate an area within their facilities to isolate suspected cases to halt any outbreak of Monkey pox and any other epidemic in the state ,” she said.

Dikko said that the government had embarked on public enlightenment at community level and through the mass media to sensitise residents on causes and symptoms of Monkey pox.

She added that the government had also placed emergency medical teams on high alert to tackle any outbreak.

“We have ongoing projects of isolated centre for any outbreak of epidemic diseases in the state,” the official said.

The permanent secretary advised residents to keep away from eating bush meat and promptly report suspected outbreak and symptoms of the disease such as high fever and rashes to health workers.

She urged the people to maintain good hygienic practices including regular hand washing to avoid contracting diseases.

“We urge the good people of the state not to panic about Monkey pox and be assured of the readiness of the state government to safeguard their health,” Dikko added