Africa, the continent of diversity, is also facing the unrelenting reality of disease and suffering. In recent years, the mpox epidemic has hit hard in some regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and other neighboring countries. In response to this public health crisis, the World Health Organization and the African Union have established a Vaccine Access and Allocation Mechanism to combat the spread of the disease.
Countries receiving this vaccine allocation include the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has reported four out of five cases on the continent this year, will receive 85% of the nearly 900,000 doses allocated. This initiative aims to increase access to vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests to combat the mpox epidemic in Africa.
Despite the challenges, some countries have already started vaccinating their populations. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have taken preventive measures to stem the spread of the disease. However, the impact of the outbreak is being felt across Africa, with 19 countries reporting cases of mpox this year alone.
The epicentre of the outbreak remains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 38,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 deaths have been reported this year. To combat this public health crisis, developed countries have pledged over 3.6 million doses of vaccines to support the mpox response.
International collaboration is essential to address such health crises and protect the health of the most vulnerable populations. By investing in vaccine research, development and distribution, we can help save lives and prevent the spread of devastating diseases. Together, we can rise to this challenge and build a healthier, more resilient future for all.