The Cross River State Ministry of Health has reported 117 suspected and 14 confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) across eight local government areas.
These areas include Calabar South, Calabar Municipal, Akpabuyo, Akamkpa, Ogoja, Yala, Yakurr, and Obudu.
To tackle the outbreak, the ministry, in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has trained 200 community-based volunteers on Mpox response strategies.
The two-day training, held in three clusters, focused on Risk Communication and Community Engagement and surveillance.
The volunteers were trained to conduct house-to-house awareness campaigns, detect active cases, trace contacts, and provide psychosocial support to affected families.
State Epidemiologist, Mrs. Inyang Ekpenyong Ekpo, explained the importance of the program during the training. She said, “This initiative equips volunteers with the skills needed to address Mpox effectively in their communities.”
The State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Christiana Ugbong, also emphasized the significance of the collaboration. She stated, “The partnership with NRCS highlights the value of community leadership in addressing public health challenges.”
