News
WHO Unveils $135M Global Plan to Combat Mpox
The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to mitigate the human-to-human transmission of Mpox.
This announcement was made in a statement released by WHO on Monday, detailing the extensive framework and strategies required to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreaks worldwide.
According to WHO, the plan will be implemented from September 2024 to February 2025 and will require an estimated 135 million U.S. dollars in funding. It is designed to bolster efforts at the global, regional, and national levels.
The core objectives of the plan are to strengthen surveillance mechanisms, enhance response strategies, ensure equitable access to critical tools like diagnostics and vaccines, and reduce zoonotic transmission (from animals to humans).
Additionally, the plan prioritizes empowering communities in their roles in outbreak control and prevention.
This initiative comes on the heels of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declaration made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on August 14.
WHO emphasized that a formal appeal for funding to support the SPRP’s implementation will be issued in the near future.
Building on recommendations made by Dr. Ghebreyesus, the SPRP focuses on a multifaceted approach, integrating comprehensive surveillance systems, proactive prevention measures, and enhanced readiness at all levels.
WHO highlighted the need for a coordinated response, particularly for those most at risk of infection, such as close contacts of confirmed Mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers. Targeted vaccination efforts will be critical to disrupting the transmission chain.
At the global level, WHO aims to provide strategic leadership through timely, evidence-based guidance.
There will be a concerted effort to ensure access to medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and treatments, for the most vulnerable populations in affected countries.
This global initiative will be executed in collaboration with a diverse network of international, regional, and national partners to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness and response.
Key partners and stakeholders engaged in this effort include the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net).
Through these partnerships, WHO aims to strengthen preparedness, streamline response efforts, and ensure timely access to the necessary resources for managing the Mpox outbreak on a global scale.
The Federal Government has announced Thursday as a public holiday in honour of the 2025 Democracy Day celebration. The announcement was made through a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Magdalene Ajani, in Abuja.
According to her, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the government and used the opportunity to commend Nigerians for sustaining 26 years of uninterrupted democracy. He noted that June 12 stands as a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s journey toward truth, justice, peace, and a promising future.
Tunji-Ojo also stated the determination and resilience of Nigerians over the past two decades and reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s dedication to upholding democratic values built on the freely expressed will of the people.
WAEC has debunked rumours that the English Language paper written on May 28 was cancelled. The exam, part of the ongoing WASSCE for school candidates, faced serious delays at several centres across the country. In some places, the paper meant to start by 9 a.m. didn’t begin until late at night, leaving students to write under poor conditions, with many using phone flashlights and torchlights to read their questions.
WAEC explained that it received reports of a possible paper leak and had to act fast to protect the credibility of the exam. But contrary to claims making rounds on social media, the council made it clear the paper was not cancelled. In a statement by Moyosola Adesina, the acting Head of Public Affairs, WAEC said a press release dated May 30 announcing the cancellation was fake and not from the council.
She said WAEC doesn’t know where the false information came from, but suspects it was shared by individuals trying to create panic and damage the council’s image. The Head of WAEC’s National Office, Amos Dangut, also commented on the situation, saying the late-night exams held in some areas were far below the council’s standards.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for a private meeting at his Lagos residence on Monday. The governor was joined by his older brother, prominent businessman Chief Adedeji Adeleke, and his son, the internationally popular Afrobeats star David Adeleke, better known as Davido.
The visit was confirmed by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who shared the news on X the following day. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by Chief Adedeji Adeleke and Afrobeats superstar Davido, at his Lagos home,” Olusegun posted.
So far, no details have been shared about the purpose of the meeting, and neither the Presidency nor the Adeleke family has made an official statement. Photos from the gathering have appeared online, offering a rare glimpse into the private talks between the President and the Adeleke family.
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