An Arm of the United Nations Is Also Stepping Up -- To Fill Void Created By Trump Gutting USAID... This Time, On Mpox In Africa.

The very good news here is that large swaths of the globe's political leadership remain committed to moral, ethical and humane international medical aid, for people in need -- in still-developing nations. In sum, the vast majority of leaders on the planet are -- and will remain -- good people. Good stewards of the roles they been elected into. Trumpism is an execrable aberration -- and one that will (eventually) be only an ugly footnote in the history of our nation.

And so, all across West Africa, the International Organization for Migration is working with governments and partners to strengthen health security and preparedness at various in-country points of entry. In Guinea, more than 166,000 international migrants have already received health screenings and vaccinations carried out by 60 community agents deployed across 12 points of entry.

In Sierra Leone, a mobility mapping exercise conducted by IOM and national authorities in Port Loko, Kambia and the Western Urban Area is guiding authorities to better target prevention and outreach. In Togo, disease surveillance and referral systems are being reinforced, with 50 trained community volunteers now active across 15 points of entry. Meanwhile in Ghana, IOM, WHO and partners convened a two-day strategic engagement on the Health, Border and Mobility Management Framework to align preparedness measures, safeguard public health, and ensure safe and orderly mobility. Here's the presser from the UN, on it all:

. . .“Health is a right that must extend to everyone, including people on the move,” said Sylvia Ekra, IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “Frontline responders, especially those in border areas, need the tools and training to detect, prevent, and respond swiftly. Mobile communities must not be left behind in access to health services, as protecting their rights is critical to protecting public health.”

Border regions in West and Central Africa are particularly susceptible to the rapid spread of infectious diseases due to a combination of high cross-border movement, porous boundaries, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Gaps in surveillance systems and resource constraints further complicate detection and containment, making targeted interventions and robust cross-border collaboration all the more urgent to safeguard both local and mobile populations. . . .

Now you know -- with interesting activity appearing on LinkedIn, on the thirteenth rerunning of the annual Apple iPhone announcement event. Grin. [Hey now! I'll wait for the 18, though -- as the 17 offers only minor camera improvements over my current 16 Pro.]

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