Intriguing insight into unanswered questions about Mpox: exploring health policy implications and considerations.

The 2022 multi-country Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak has added concerns to scientific research. However, unanswered questions about the disease remain. These unanswered questions lie in different aspects, such as transmission, the affected community, clinical presentations, infection and prevention control and treatment and vaccination.

Paucity of Health Data in Africa: An Obstacle to Digital Health Implementation and Evidence-Based Practice.

Among the numerous challenges that Africa faces in improving its healthcare systems, the paucity of health data stands out as paramount. This study aims to examine the challenges related to the paucity of health data in Africa and its impact on the implementation of digital health and evidence-based practice. The findings of the study reveal that health data availability in Africa is both limited and frequently of poor quality.

Healthcare Workers' Safety; A Necessity for a Robust Health System.

It is a prevalent misconception that healthcare professionals are specialists and thus can effectively manage their health. This is probably true, but given recent pandemics and the rise in violence in medical settings, one is compelled to question whether their health and safety are sufficient for a robust healthcare system. This is important because protecting and promoting the health, safety, and well-being of health workers will improve the quality of patient care and increase the resilience of health services in the face of outbreaks and public health emergencies.

Sociodemographic factors associated with acceptance of index case testing among newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus-positive clients in southern borno, Nigeria.

Background: The study aimed to explore the sociodemographic factors associated with the acceptance of index case testing (ICT) among newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Southern Borno, Nigeria.

Methods: The study involved four healthcare facilities providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) services in Southern Borno, Nigeria. Secondary data from the index case testing register were collected between April 2022 and April 2023.

Monkeypox vaccination in the global south: Fighting a war without a weapon.

Background: The Mpox outbreak awakened countries worldwide to renew efforts in epidemiological surveillance and vaccination of susceptible populations. In terms of Mpox vaccination, various challenges exist in the global south, which impede adequate vaccine coverage, especially in Africa. This paper reviewed the situation of Mpox vaccination in the global south and potential ameliorative approaches.

Biomass fuel use and birth weight among term births in Nigeria.

Despite the high burden of household air pollution from biomass fuel in sub-Saharan Africa, the association of prenatal biomass fuel exposure and birth weight as a continuous variable among term births has not been extensively studied. In this study, our primary aim is to estimate the association between biomass cooking fuel and birth weight among term births in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. For replication, we also evaluated this association in a larger and nationally representative sample from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).

Healthcare workers and monkeypox: The case for risk mitigation.

Potentially more at risk of contracting the monkeypox virus are healthcare workers. Most healthcare workers come into direct contact with the disease's infected people, which can spread directly and indirectly. Healthcare professionals must contact patients with the disease and any infected objects or fluids to effectively manage the disease, which further increases the risk of transmission.

The challenges of addressing the cholera outbreak in Cameroon.

Cholera is an enteric disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the toxins of the bacteria - Its transmission is exacerbated by poor sanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices. Affected individuals may present with severe symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting that can lead to death within few hours. Cameroon is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in decades.

Monkeypox: Is the world ready for another pandemic?

As the world continues to endure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an outbreak of Monkeypox occurs and continues to spread unabatedly. The double-stranded DNA monkeypox virus is a sylvatic zoonosis, which occasionally infects humans and is a member of the genus Orthopoxviruses. Although scientists believed the virus to have low transmissibility, the speed and degree with which it spreads is alarming and could land one in a hospital or even kill one.

Economic evaluation of a leprosy innovation project in Northern Nigeria: cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: The state of leprosy in Nigeria and the realities of post elimination era underscore the need for evidence- based cost-effective approach to early case detection for enhanced control and elimination of leprosy. This study evaluated the operational cost-effectiveness of a community delivered Legacy Innovative Project implemented to enhance leprosy case detection in northern Nigeria.

Methods: Data were collected from an explorative cross-sectional study, undertaken in a practice setting among endemic communities in three states in northern Nigeria.

Conflict, community, and COVID-19: response and implications in Ethiopia.

Community transmission of COVID-19 is currently on the rise in Ethiopia, while availability of diagnostic and treatment services remains limited. Impaired access to essential services is affected by the pandemic's strain on the health system, and as a consequence of the country's public health response. The ongoing conflict in the Tigray Region provides another obstacle to accessing and providing care for the local population; and has displaced large numbers of people both within and outside the country.

The impact of COVID-19 on international development aid and health systems strengthening in low-income countries.

Health systems play a critical role in providing services that aim to improve, promote, restore, or maintain the health of communities. Unfortunately, health systems in low-income countries are fragile, having an adverse effect on the health of the population. Whereas international development aid remains crucial in strengthening health systems in low-income countries (LICs), COVID-19 has induced changes in the dynamics in the availability, provision and access to international development aid.

Curbing antimicrobial resistance in post-COVID Africa: Challenges, actions and recommendations.

Background: Antimicrobial self-medication and use have significantly increased in the COVID-19 era-increasing antibiotic consumption and resulting in a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Africa (AMR). We conducted a narrative review to investigate challenges associated with curbing AMR in a post-COVID-19 setting in Africa, suggesting practical measures applicable for policy-informed implementation.

Method: A narrative review was performed to pinpoint AMR challenges and actions on the African continent.

COVID-19 AND INSECURITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

Northern Nigeria is currently facing a twin crisis of both COVID-19 and insecurity. They have made it difficult for the people to follow government containment efforts to control the pandemic and also have impacted on the socioeconomic and health aspects of the society. We have discussed on the impact of insecurity amid COVID-19 in Northern Nigeria.

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: Vaccination challenges in Sudan.

The first COVID-19 case in Sudan was announced on March 13th, 2020. 1835 deaths were recorded as of February 7th, 2021. 800,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine were allocated to Sudan through COVAX in March 2021.

Early marriage and teenage pregnancy: The unspoken consequences of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Early marriage and its sad consequences to the girl child and socio-economic development of the nation has been an age-long issue being advocated against in many parts of Nigeria. At the onset of COVID-19, the teeming efforts to curb this issue almost got jeopardized with harsh economic situations in many households due to the lockdown and the willingness to marry off their girls to reduce this burden. Closure of schools and cases of sexual gender based violence also impacted the prevalence of early marriage during the pandemic in Nigeria.

COVID-19 and its impacts: The situation in Niger republic.

COVID-19 being a public health emergency of international concern has emerged in most African countries including Niger. Niger, a landlocked country, is tasked with controlling the pandemic. However, of the big challenges the country faced is the fragility of healthcare system which posed limitations to the fight against the virus.