Enormous Cape Mount, Liberia – Since August 2024, Liberia has reported a complete of 74 mpox circumstances, with one active case in the Enormous Cape Mount. In collaboration with the Nationwide Public Well being Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the World Well being Group (WHO), Africa Center for Illness Preserve watch over and Prevention (CDC), and Gavi, the Ministry of Well being launched a nationwide mpox vaccination power to fight the unfold of the virus.
The vaccination efforts kicked off in the presence of the Minister of Well being, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, NPHIL Director Current, Dr. Dugbeh Nyan, and Enormous Cape Mount County Well being Officer, Dr. Daniel Koffa who changed into the first folk to receive the vaccine. “Right here’s a gigantic joy for me — We are together with a brand fresh instrument to the fight in opposition to mpox in Liberia. Our dedication to surveillance, community engagement, and risk conversation has laid the basis for this vital initiative,” Dr. Kpoto declared. “We thank all effectively being companions who maintain contributed to bring this vaccine to Liberia,” the Minister added.
This mpox vaccination campaign will prioritize at-risk populations, together with contacts of confirmed circumstances, healthcare workers, and hotspot communities.
“I used to be very overjoyed after I took the vaccine due to I saw the Minister of Well being receive vaccinated first. Now I in actual fact feel overjoyed I’m vaccinated, and I do know that I’m effectively safe from the virus,” shared Denise Zodiah, surely one of the mpox vaccine beneficiaries and a resident of Enormous Cape Mount County.
Liberia is surely one of the 10 African countries to maintain acquired mpox vaccine doses, and among the 7 countries to implement vaccination measures in opposition to the virus. A total of 10 800 vaccine doses had been shipped to Liberia by WHO in collaboration with Africa CDC.
“This vaccine arrives at a extraordinarily vital time and is anticipated to guard our citizens’ effectively being and wellbeing,” emphasized EPI Director at the Ministry of Well being, Dr Yuah Nemah.
To ensure that the a success introduction of the mpox vaccine into the nation, WHO deployed two consultants to provide technical strengthen to the Ministry of Well being in outlining the vaccination roll-out device. WHO also supported the fashion of effectively being promotional messages to raise consciousness about the mpox illness and the advantages of vaccination.
“Vaccination is surely one of the best and safe countermeasures dilapidated in the response for mpox. This strategic intervention represents a vital step in Liberia’s efforts to forestall the unfold of the virus,” remarked Dr Julius Monday, WHO Well being Emergency Personnel Lead.
To prepare the ground for the mpox vaccine roll out, WHO and the Ministry of Well being knowledgeable 231 scientific examiners in vaccination programs, vaccine security, files monitoring & risk conversation. WHO also continues to strengthen NPHIL in active case finding, and be in contact to apply up, which is a vital driver for the mpox vaccination.
“We thank WHO for their strengthen in strengthening our diagnostic skill, bettering our surveillance system and our preparedness to acknowledge to public effectively being emergencies,” talked about Dr Dugbeh Nyan, Director of NPHIL.
