Health
African officials say spread of Monkeypox is already an emergency
Health authorities in Africa say they are treating the expanding monkeypox outbreak there as an emergency and are calling on rich countries to share the world’s limited supply of vaccines in an effort to avoid the glaring equity problems seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monkeypox has been affecting people in parts of central and west Africa for decades, but the lack of laboratory diagnosis and weak surveillance means many cases are going undetected across the continent, The Associated Press reported.
To date, countries in Africa have reported more than 1,800 suspected cases so far this year including more than 70 deaths, but only 109 have been lab-confirmed.
“This particular outbreak for us means an emergency,” said Ahmed Ogwell, the acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control.
“We want to be able to address monkeypox as an emergency now so that it does not cause more pain and suffering,” he said.
Last week, WHO said its emergency committee concluded that the expanding monkeypox outbreak was worrying, but did not yet warrant being declared a global health emergency. The UN health agency said it would reconsider its decision if the disease continued spreading across more borders, showed signs of increased severity, or began infecting vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children, AP reported.
Globally, more than 5,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 51 countries, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of those cases are in Europe. No deaths beyond Africa have been reported.
Within Africa, WHO said monkeypox has spread to countries where it hasn’t previously been seen, including South Africa, Ghana and Morocco. But more than 90 percent of the continent’s infections are in Congo and Nigeria, according to WHO’s Africa director, Dr. Moeti Matshidiso.
Health
German medical team launches free surgical mission at Bamiyan provincial hospital
The mission is funded by volunteer doctors and partner organisations, with essential medicines and medical equipment also brought into the country.
A nine-member medical team from Germany has begun a two-week medical and surgical mission at Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, offering free specialised treatment to patients in need.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the team arrived in Afghanistan in coordination with the ministry and in partnership with Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS).
During the mission, the specialists will provide diagnostic and surgical services, including plastic surgery, burn treatment, correction of congenital deformities, war-related injuries and other complex medical conditions.
The team is expected to examine around 200 patients, with between 100 and 150 selected for surgical procedures.
In addition to treating patients, the German specialists will conduct theoretical and practical training sessions for Afghan doctors, surgeons and medical students to strengthen local medical expertise.
The ministry said the mission is funded by volunteer doctors and partner organisations, with essential medicines and medical equipment also brought into the country.
The initiative aims to improve access to free specialised healthcare, enhance the skills of Afghan medical professionals and strengthen surgical services in Afghanistan.
Health
Afghanistan to launch nationwide polio vaccination campaign
UNICEF said that 12.7 million children in Afghanistan have been vaccinated against polio through ongoing immunization campaigns.
Afghanistan is set to launch a new nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday, November 2, as health authorities continue efforts to eradicate the disease, following the vaccination of 12.7 million children across the country.
Afghanistan’s Polio-Free Initiative announced that the campaign will begin nationwide on Monday, while vaccination activities in the southern zone will start a day later, on Tuesday, November 3.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that 12.7 million children in Afghanistan have been vaccinated against polio through ongoing immunization campaigns.
The UN agency noted that despite progress in vaccination coverage, efforts to completely eliminate polio in Afghanistan are continuing.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five and can cause permanent paralysis.
Health organizations have urged families to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible children receive the required vaccine doses to protect them against the disease.
Health
Afghanistan urges polio vaccination as cases reach 42
World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness and strengthen global efforts to eliminate the disease.
Afghanistan Free Polio has urged parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children against polio, warning of the continued need for vaccination efforts as the country marks World Polio Day on October 24.
In a message issued on Saturday, the organization called on families to ensure their children receive polio vaccines, stressing that every child has the right to grow up free from the disease.
The organization also emphasized the role of families and communities in preventing the spread of the virus and achieving a polio-free Afghanistan.
According to a previous report by the World Health Organization (WHO), six new polio cases had been recorded in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of cases reported since the beginning of 2026 to 42.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where polio has not been eradicated.
World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness and strengthen global efforts to eliminate the disease.
Health authorities and public health organizations continue to stress that vaccination and community participation are essential to protecting children and preventing further transmission of the virus.
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