A Tale of Two African Crises: Solar Energy Rises Amidst Mpox Emergency

While the continent’s public health body warns against complacency over a widespread mpox outbreak, a separate analysis reveals that Africa is rapidly expanding its adoption of solar energy, an effort that could help power its development and resilience, recent articles by Anadolu Agency revealed.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared that mpox remains a “Public Health Emergency of Continental Security,” a status that was first put in place in August of the previous year. According to the Africa CDC, maintaining this emergency status is crucial to ensure continued political will and funding to combat the virus, as new case surges have been identified in countries like Ghana, Liberia, and Kenya, with the virus newly introduced in others.

The report notes that over 185,000 cases have been reported in 29 African nations, with nearly 2,000 related deaths. Experts fear that a premature end to the emergency status could lead to reduced vigilance and a dangerous resurgence of the disease, urging for better investigation of deaths, especially among children, and expanded vaccine access.

In stark contrast to this ongoing health battle, a new analysis by the energy think tank Ember points to a bright spot on the continent: a significant increase in solar energy adoption. The report, based on data from China’s General Administration of Customs, shows a massive surge in solar panel imports across Africa, indicating a major expansion of solar power.

Algeria, for example, saw a 33-fold increase in its solar panel imports in a single year. This shift toward solar, from large-scale projects to household panels, presents an opportunity for African nations to reduce their heavy and costly reliance on diesel generators. While the adoption of solar is a positive economic and environmental step, it also raises questions about the future power infrastructure for a continent that is still struggling with a health crisis that requires reliable electricity for hospitals, laboratories, and vaccine cold chains. The twin narratives of a pressing health emergency and a burgeoning solar revolution highlight the complex challenges and opportunities facing the continent, where the fight for public health and the push for sustainable development are inextricably linked.