Africa CDC reports that the continent's mpox response is funded below 10%
A senior official from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stated on Wednesday that Africa has obtained less than 10 percent of the estimated $245 million required to combat a rising mpox outbreak across the continent.
TroibNews 
Africa is facing a significant financial shortfall in its efforts to manage an escalating mpox outbreak, with less than 10 percent of the needed $245 million currently secured, as reported by a top official from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The urgency to address this health crisis has intensified since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August, noting the spread of a new strain from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to its neighbors.
The estimated budget requirements and resource needs for tackling the outbreak have been assessed by the Africa CDC.
"We've come to the first estimate of $245 million," stated Ngashi Ngongo, the Africa CDC Chief of Staff, during a WHO gathering held in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.
The DRC government has pledged $10 million, while an additional $10.4 million has been approved by the African Union, according to Ngongo.
With these contributions, around $20 million is currently at hand for the outbreak response, Ngongo noted, emphasizing that these numbers are subject to revision.
"The current gap where we stand today is about $224 million that we are looking for," he remarked.
In efforts to control the outbreak, Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, indicated at the meeting that plans are underway to procure nearly 1 million mpox vaccine doses. The breakdown includes 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic, 100,000 doses from France, nearly 100,000 from Germany, and about 500,000 from Spain.
The timeline for the delivery of these vaccines to the DRC, the region most impacted by the virus, remains uncertain.
Mpox is characterized by the development of pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms and, while typically mild, can be fatal.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
The urgency to address this health crisis has intensified since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August, noting the spread of a new strain from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to its neighbors.
The estimated budget requirements and resource needs for tackling the outbreak have been assessed by the Africa CDC.
"We've come to the first estimate of $245 million," stated Ngashi Ngongo, the Africa CDC Chief of Staff, during a WHO gathering held in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.
The DRC government has pledged $10 million, while an additional $10.4 million has been approved by the African Union, according to Ngongo.
With these contributions, around $20 million is currently at hand for the outbreak response, Ngongo noted, emphasizing that these numbers are subject to revision.
"The current gap where we stand today is about $224 million that we are looking for," he remarked.
In efforts to control the outbreak, Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, indicated at the meeting that plans are underway to procure nearly 1 million mpox vaccine doses. The breakdown includes 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic, 100,000 doses from France, nearly 100,000 from Germany, and about 500,000 from Spain.
The timeline for the delivery of these vaccines to the DRC, the region most impacted by the virus, remains uncertain.
Mpox is characterized by the development of pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms and, while typically mild, can be fatal.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
