Democratic Republic of the Congo launches urgent Mpox vaccination campaign amid alarming outbreak
Kinshasa: Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have launched a vaccination campaign against Mpox, following a significant outbreak that prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global emergency nearly two months ago.
The vaccination campaign started in the eastern city of Goma, located in the North Kivu province, where local hospitals have been overwhelmed by the spread of a potentially more contagious strain of mpox. The DRC received 265,000 vaccine doses as donations from the European Union and the United States, which are now being administered to frontline workers and at-risk populations.
“Plans have been made to ensure all targeted personnel receive the vaccine,” Muboyayi Chikayal, the minister’s chief of staff, said during the campaign’s launch.
With approximately 30,000 suspected mpox cases and 859 deaths, the DRC has accounted for over 80% of Africa's reported mpox cases and nearly all the deaths this year. The outbreak has affected all 26 provinces of the central African nation.
Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that while the majority of mpox cases and deaths in the DRC have occurred among children under the age of 15, the current doses are being reserved for adults in high-risk groups. He emphasized that vaccination efforts are focused on protecting essential workers who are most exposed to the virus.
In addition to the current adult vaccination efforts, Minister Kamba announced that 3 million doses of a vaccine approved for use in children are expected to arrive from Japan in the coming days, allowing for an expanded immunization effort across the country.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
