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WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Over New Mpox Variant In Africa

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The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency due to the rapid spread of a new variant of the mpox (Monkey Pox) virus across 13 African countries.

This marks the second time in two years that the WHO has issued such a high-level alert for mpox, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The decision follows an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus has begun spreading to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency, stating, “This is something that should concern us all,” as he announced the emergency declaration at a press conference on Wednesday.

The PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) declaration is intended to mobilize international resources and cooperation to combat the outbreak.

The new variant, known as clade Ib, appears to spread more easily than its predecessor, clade I, which initially caused the DRC outbreak.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has reported over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths on the continent this year alone, a significant increase from the previous year.

An agreement has been reached with the European Union’s health task force and vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to supply 215,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Africa, with plans to distribute millions more by the end of 2025.

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Jigawa: Under-5 mortality dropped to 161 per 1000 live births – UNICEF

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The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says Jigawa State has made significant strides in child health, reducing the Under-5 mortality rate from 213 to 161 per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2023.

This was disclosed by UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Health, Dr. Shyam Sharan Pathak, who represented the UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, at the closeout ceremony of the Jigawa State Government/Gavi PHC-MoU at the Government House, Dutse.

He said the state recorded significant milestones after the signing of MoU with Gavi since the implementation period- March 2022 to March 2025.

According to reports, the state succeeded in reduction in Under-5 mortality rate from 213 to 161 per 1000 live births between 2018 and 2023, increase in measles vaccination, five-fold increase in Ante-natal Care (ANC) coverage, and four-fold increase in SBA (skilled birth attendance).

Ms. Munduate urged the Jigawa State Government to sustain those achievements by retaining healthcare workers, maintaining medical equipment, strengthening outreach services, and enhancing data management for informed decision-making.

Responding, Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining all the success achieved through partnership.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Aminu Usman, he acknowledged the success recorded, including Immunisation coverage and Primary Health care facilities, human resources, reduction of maternal mortality, among others.

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Company offers staff half-hour masturbation breaks to boost productivity

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The new-age work-break is garnering some serious attention.

The boss of a Spanish firm has revealed that she gives her staff half-hour masturbation breaks to help relieve ‘stress’ and ‘agitation’ among her workers.

Erika Lust, who runs her own adult entertainment company called Erika Lust Films, said that the regular ‘self pleasure’ breaks have helped her employees battle through exhausting work days.

Complete with private “masturbation stations”, staff in Lust’s Barcelona office get a full 30 minutes to ‘unwind’ during the working day.

The trend, which was first introduced in 2022, has been so well received that sex toy manufacturers have even supplied the company with tools to help get the job done.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDffJ8Du2H/?igsh=MWE4d3ZlZ2szeDhkNw==

 

One of her employees told Indy100 that the added breaks promote “less aggression” and “more productivity” in the workplace – the suggestion being that no matter whether it’s an office or a warehouse, the rationale should ring true either way.

Moreover, though the notion of a masturbation break outside of a setting like this might make some people uncomfortable, a recent survey conducted among more than 1,000 people indicated that as many as one in 20 people masturbated at work.

Speaking on Instagram about the progressive initiative, Lust said: “The truth is masturbation can help people manage stress, regulate their sleep, and connect with their body and sexual desires, among other advantages.⁠”

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Studies have also long suggested that masturbation and intimacy are linked to a string of health benefits including reducing blood pressure — and avoiding it may prove harmful.

According to Healthline, masturbating can cause you to release healthy amounts of helpful hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, testosterone and prolactin – all of which have been proven to positively affect your mood and physical health.

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UNICEF calls for urgent action as 85.6% of children in Jigawa face monetary poverty

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Over 89 percent of children in Jigawa State are living in multi-dimensional poverty, with 85.6 percent facing monetary poverty, according to a report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
This alarming statistic was revealed by the Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, during the launch of the Jigawa General Household Survey at the Government House banquet hall in Dutse. Farah, represented by Michael Banda, highlighted the urgent need for action from the 27 local government councils in the state to improve the conditions for affected children.

He stated, “89.4 percent of children experience monetary poverty, while 85.6 percent are multi-dimensionally poor, facing deprivation in at least three critical areas, including health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter, access to information, and child protection.”

UNICEF has called for immediate intervention to address the troubling levels of child poverty and ensure a brighter future for the children of Jigawa.

Farah added, “These figures show a sobering reality that children in Jigawa are deprived in multiple essential aspects of their lives. This underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to reduce child poverty and enhance their well-being.”

He also mentioned that significant strides have been made in strengthening systems to measure child poverty through the General Household Survey (GHS), and in developing important policies and action plans to address these issues. He emphasized that local government chairmen play a crucial role in using the evidence gathered for multisectoral planning and action to address child poverty in Jigawa.

UNICEF further emphasized that the challenges can be mitigated by strengthening collective efforts, ensuring that local government data is used effectively in decision-making, and designing structured social protection interventions targeting poor and vulnerable children.

The organization suggested measures such as the approval of an expanded social protection policy, the passage of a revised social protection bill, increased budget allocations for child-focused programs in sectors like health, education, and social protection, and a 30% increase in birth registration for children under five.

Farah congratulated the Jigawa State government and its people for the successful completion of the General Household Survey, which includes disaggregated data across the state’s 27 local government areas. He commended the initiative as a testament to the state government’s commitment to advancing child welfare and improving outcomes for vulnerable groups through evidence-based decision-making.

He concluded by acknowledging UNICEF’s strong partnership with the Jigawa State government in various sectors, including health, education, nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), child protection, and social protection.

In his address, Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi assured that his government would use the data collected by the State Bureau for Statistics to inform result-oriented and effective decision-making. He noted that the data highlights the state’s standing in key sectors and would serve as a critical tool for shaping future decisions.

Governor Namadi urged local governments, ministries, departments, and agencies to make use of the data to ensure the proper implementation of government policies and programs.

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