Africa is struggling to secure sufficient funding to combat the rising mpox outbreak on the continent, with current funds covering less than 10% of the estimated needs, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
As the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August, a new strain has been spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries, intensifying the need for a robust response.
Africa CDC has outlined a budget of $245 million necessary to address the outbreak effectively. However, only $20 million has been secured so far. The DRC's government has committed $10 million, while the African Union has approved $10.4 million, Africa CDC Chief of Staff Ngashi Ngongo revealed at a recent WHO meeting in Brazzaville.
\"The current gap where we stand today is about $224 million that we are looking for,\" Ngongo stated.
In an effort to bolster the response, Africa CDC is working towards acquiring nearly 1 million doses of mpox vaccine. This includes 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic, 100,000 from France, almost 100,000 from Germany, and about 500,000 from Spain. However, there is no confirmed timeline for the vaccine deliveries to reach the DRC, the region most affected by the virus.
Mpox is a viral infection characterized by pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, and while it is usually mild, it can be fatal in some cases.
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Africa's mpox response is less than 10% funded, says Africa CDC
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