Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Wednesday lamented the 10,000 doses of Monkeypox, saying that it’s inadequate for a population of 250 million.
Recall that on August 23, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Nigeria had recorded a total of 40 confirmed cases of Mpox out of 830 suspected cases across the country.
Government of the United States of America, on Tuesday, donated 10,000 doses of Jynneos Monkeypox vaccine to Nigeria.
Speaking during the unveiling of 1000 Almajiri children as beneficiaries of Gombe State Contributory HealthCare Management Agency in collaboration with the office of the special Adviser to the Governor on Tsansanya, Almajiri and Islamiyya school.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy Dr Manassah Jatau, urged scientists and pharmacists to take the challenge of producing drugs since most of the raw materials are in Nigeria and Africa.
He said, “I have been saying it and I will continue to say it that scientists, pharmacist among you should try to manufacture drugs from the plants we have in Nigeria and Africa.
“Yesterday, I saw that we have just been given just 10,00 doses of monkey pox. If you are given 10,000 doses in a population that is 250 million. If we continue to depend on medicine from abroad many of us will die before the medicine comes. The cost is way beyond us now. All foreign medicines are made from plant.”
While speaking on the importance of enlisting the almajiri children into GoHealth’s equity programme, the governor added, “Of course, without this scheme most people in this category would have been unable to access health services because they cannot afford.
Today, our gathering marks another significant milestone in our administration’s efforts towards healthcare provision as we witness the enrolling and registration of 1,000 Almajiri students into the Gombe State Health Insurance Scheme. Considering that the Almajiris being a vulnerable group live a lifestyle that makes them liable to be infected with communicable diseases, based on their exposure to the harsh environment.”
