Addressing funding and resource gaps for mpox response in Africa
The monkey-pox has made a comeback, In July 2022, the multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a PHEIC as it spread rapidly via sexual contact across a range of countries where the virus had not been seen before. Once again, the virus has been declared a health emergency of a global scale. And among many concerns, the one that Africa would like not repeated is the diversion of funds to other parts of the world as panic prevails, as was in the case of Covid-19 pandemic. CNBC Africa is joined by Samuel Boland, Acting Incident Manager, WHO Africa to tell us how funds are being allocated and managed to contain this outbreak in Africa.
Mon, 19 Aug 2024 10:11:45 GMT
Disclaimer: The following content is generated automatically by a GPT AI and may not be accurate. To verify the details, please watch the video
AI Generated Summary
- The WHO is stockpiling and distributing diagnostic kits and treatments funded by the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, while collaborating with partners to facilitate access to vaccines in Africa.
- Gavi has allocated $500 million for mpox vaccines in Africa, with a joint mechanism established to streamline procurement and deployment based on prioritization assessments.
- No current border screenings or travel restrictions for mpox, with a focus on screening, seeking medical attention, and avoiding contact while actively mobilizing resources from the COVID-19 response to address funding gaps.
The monkey-pox virus has reemerged, with a multi-country outbreak being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022. The virus has rapidly spread through sexual contact in countries where it had not been previously detected, once again prompting global health emergency status. This time, Africa is keen to avoid a repeat of the diversion of funds that occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. CNBC Africa spoke with Samuel Boland, Acting Incident Manager for the monkey-pox outbreak at WHO Africa, to discuss the allocation and management of funds to contain the outbreak in Africa. Boland outlined the strategies being employed to address the funding and resource gaps for the mpox response. The WHO has been stockpiling and distributing diagnostic kits and treatments across the continent, funded by the Contingency Fund for Emergencies. In collaboration with partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, efforts are underway to facilitate access to vaccines and deliver them to populations in need. Gavi has allocated $500 million for mpox vaccines in Africa, with a joint mechanism in place to streamline the procurement and deployment of vaccines. Prioritization of vaccine delivery is based on assessments and analysis to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the necessary protection. Despite the higher transmission rate of the clade 1b strain of mpox, there are currently no border screenings or travel restrictions advised. The focus remains on screening, seeking medical attention when unwell, and avoiding contact with others. The reallocation of funds from the COVID-19 response to mpox is actively being pursued, with a collaborative approach to mobilize resources internally and externally to effectively respond to the crisis. Africa is taking proactive measures to combat the monkey-pox outbreak and prevent the diversion of critical funds and resources.
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