WHO Highlights Challenges in Fighting Mpox in Africa

WHO Highlights Challenges in Fighting Mpox in Africa
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified limited access to vaccines and funding gaps as the main challenges in combating the mpox outbreak in Africa, Anadolu Agency reported. The statement was made by Patrick Otim, a program manager at the WHO regional office for Africa, on the one-year anniversary of mpox being declared a public health emergency of international concern.

According to the latest WHO data, in the past year, 28 African countries have been affected, with nearly 50,000 confirmed cases and approximately 240 deaths. Other challenges cited by Otim include inadequate access to care, competing emergencies, and the stigma associated with the disease, which prevents people from seeking treatment.

Despite these hurdles, the WHO noted positive developments, including a 34.5% decline in the weekly number of confirmed cases. Several countries, including Ivory Coast, Angola, Gabon, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe, have gone more than 90 days without new confirmed cases. In total, over 3 million vaccine doses have been delivered, and more than 900,000 people have received at least one dose.