News
WHO recommends new name for monkeypox amid racism concerns
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended ‘mpox’ as a new name for monkeypox.
Human monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is endemic in Africa.
Following the outbreak of the virus in European countries earlier this year, concerns about racism and stigmatisation were raised.
Photos of Africans to were used to depict the virus, despite the outbreak not being in Africa.
In a statement on Monday, the organisation said its move was prompted by concerns of “racist and stigmatising language online”.
“Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out,” the statement reads.
“WHO, in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) update process, held consultations to gather views from a range of experts, as well as countries and the general public, who were invited to submit suggestions for new names.
“Mpox will become a preferred term, replacing monkeypox, after a transition period of one year. This serves to mitigate the concerns raised by experts about confusion caused by a name change in the midst of a global outbreak. It also gives time to complete the ICD update process and to update WHO publications.
“The synonym mpox will be included in the ICD-10 online in the coming days. It will be a part of the official 2023 release of ICD-11, which is the current global standard for health data, clinical documentation and statistical aggregation.
“Various advisory bodies were heard during the consultation process, including experts from the medical and scientific and classification and statistics advisory committees which constituted of representatives from government authorities of 45 different countries.
“The issue of the use of the new name in different languages was extensively discussed. The preferred term mpox can be used in other languages. If additional naming issues arise, these will be addressed via the same mechanism. Translations are usually discussed in formal collaboration with relevant government authorities and the related scientific societies.
“WHO will adopt the term mpox in its communications, and encourages others to follow these recommendations, to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name and from adoption of the new name.”
The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved free bus services for the people of the state through the Edo City Transport Service.
In a press statement on Tuesday issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, the initiative is part of the Okpebholo administration’s drive to entrench his policy direction.
The free bus service, according to the statement, will cover Benin metropolis and the three Senatorial Districts of the state (Intra and Intercity routes) and is part of the governor’s commitment to enhance the welfare of all Edo people.
The statement added, “The bus services will ease the transportation stress. Our people who plan to move around within the Benin metropolis and out will be able to do that without any extra financial burdens.
“Edo Central, like Ekpoma, Iruekpen, Irrua, Uromi, and other places, are also part of the routes the free transportation services will cover.
“Edo North is fully captured. Agbede, Auchi, Okpella, Fugar, and other parts of Edo North are covered in the free transportation scheme of Governor Monday Okpebholo.”
The federal capital territory (FCT) high court has remanded Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering on Wednesday.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.
Bello was docked before trial Justice Maryann Anenih of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The defendants were accused of complicity in a N110billion fraud.
It will be recalled that the erstwhile governor’s whereabouts remained unknown till yesterday when he surrendered himself after a protracted hide-and-seek game between him and the anti-graft agency.
Dressed in white caftan and blue cap, Bello, mounted the dock around 9:45am.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
More so, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
Governor Okpebholo approves free rides for residents
Court remands Yahaya Bello in EFCC custody
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WHO Africa regional director-elect, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile dies aged 55
Yahaya Bello pleads not guilty to N110bn fraud charges
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EFCC arraigns Yahaya Bello over alleged N110.4bn fraud
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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
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