Visionary Reports

The Akwa Town Hall has become the nerve center lately ,for a critical three-day summit as public health stakeholders in the Littoral Region mobilize against a growing threat: the mpox (formerly monkey pox) epidemic.On Friday, January 30, 2026, Aboubakary Haman Tchiouto, Secretary General of the Governor’s Office, officially launched the intensified surveillance initiative in the Déïdo health district. The data remains sobering. The region has recorded five confirmed cases, 62 suspected cases, and 56 identified contacts, primarily concentrated in the Wouri and Moungo divisions.Given the Littoral’s high population density and its 24 sprawling health districts, the Governor’s representative stressed that rigorous coordination is no longer optional it is a necessity. “Everything is under control so far,” Tchiouto assured, while noting that the focus must remain on community awareness and rapid clinical response.The Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Saurel Ngo’o Mebe, praised the vigilance of field teams. “It is because of our surveillance that we have found these cases,” he noted.However, he cautioned that clinical diagnosis is complex. Because mpox symptoms can easily be mistaken for measles or chickenpox, the delegation is prioritizing laboratory confirmation. Once a case is validated, the focus shifts to contact tracing a process Dr. Mebe insists is about “prevention, not incrimination.”The epidemic was officially declared in the Littoral during the 47th week of 2025 (mid-November). Currently, the Abouh, Déïdo, and Cité des Palmiers districts are the most affected.Dr. Hans Mossi Makembe, the regional coordinator for epidemic response at the littoral regional delegation of public health,highlighted the logistical hurdles facing his teams: Difficulties in sample collection and transport from remote areas to reference labs. Healthcare workers are currently managing simultaneous outbreaks of both mpox and measles. While Laquintinie Hospital serves as the urban hub, rural care remains a challenge.Dr. Makembe also called for a shift in funding, urging decentralized local authorities and the private sector to contribute to the response. “If we are healthy in our communities.it’s because there are people working every day,” he reminded the assembly.Worth noting, public health officials are urging the public not to panic but to remain vigilant. The primary shift in the current outbreak is the increased risk of human-to-human transmission. Suspicious skin lesions or blisters containing pus.Rashes appearing on the head, body, or genitals.The public is encouraged to report any suspected cases immediately via the 1510 hotline, which is available 24/7.

By Henry Wana