Call for speedy and impactful action in Africa’s Mpox response

Staff Reporter

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has welcomed the optimistic statement of the Governing Board of the Pandemic Fund (PF), but warned it must act with agility and speed to avert a global pandemic, given the rapid continental and international movements of people.

The Pandemic Fund recently held an emergency board meeting and agreed on two main outcomes: firstly recognising the need for speed and efficiency in garnering resources for mpox, and creation of a special financing mechanism to accelerate support for outbreaks, including mpox,

Reacting to the outcome of the meeting, Africa CDC has emphasised the need for speedy, agile and impactful action in Africa against the mpox outbreak.

“Africa CDC acknowledges and profoundly appreciates the Governing Board of the Pandemic Fund (PF) continued support in strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities across the continent. The two key outcomes of the statement, which deeply recognise the need for speed and efficiency in garnering resources for mpox, as well as the creation of a special financing mechanism to accelerate support for outbreaks, including mpox, demonstrate a new dawn in our global collective efforts to respond to the growing existential threats of public health emergencies,” Africa CDC said this week.

“Africa CDC, WHO, and other multilateral organizations (e.g., UNICEF, WFP, IFRC, IOM) have developed the Continental Mpox Preparedness and Response Plan (CMPRP) to address this challenge. The CMPRP operates under a unified approach — ONE Team, ONE Plan, ONE Budget, and ONE M&E framework — aiming to improve surveillance, diagnostics, and workforce capacity while strengthening public health systems and engaging communities for a more effective and harmonized response across Africa.”

The African Union organisation believes that the CMPRP presents a valuable opportunity for the Pandemic Fund Governing Board to expedite the release of funds to support countries’ preparedness and response efforts in a timely manner. It said an effective mpox response depends on swift action, which has the potential to eliminate the heart-wrenching inequalities demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Africa lagged significantly in accessing vaccines.

“As Africa continues to grapple with the increasing spread of mpox within countries and across borders, the Pandemic Fund must act with agility and speed to avert a global pandemic, given the rapid continental and international movements of people. The recent Pandemic Fund Governing Board’s decision to accelerate the release of the second round of funding to ensure a timely and effective mpox response while strengthening healthcare systems’ resilience is a welcome development.”