WHO Regional Committee for Africa Begins Meeting as New Mpox Strategy Unveiled

WHO Regional Committee for Africa Begins Meeting as New Mpox Strategy Unveiled

The 74th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa started on August 26 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Over the next five days, nearly 1,000 delegates, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and health ministers from 47 member countries, will gather to address critical health issues on the continent.

A major topic of discussion is the global Mpox epidemic. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the organization’s commitment to addressing Mpox with new strategies. “Our focus is on creating effective solutions to manage Mpox differently than before,” she said. Efforts include supporting member states in developing comprehensive plans to tackle the outbreak.

Key agenda items include strengthening health systems through WHO reforms, amplifying Africa’s voice in global health matters, and addressing preventable child mortality. Despite the continent’s longstanding struggles with diseases like malaria, meningitis, and cholera, Joy Phumaphi from the African Leaders Malaria Alliance expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to manage epidemics. “Africa has a rich history of handling health crises effectively,” Phumaphi noted.

The Mpox epidemic, intensified by a new, more dangerous strain, has prompted the WHO to declare a global emergency. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which is at the center of the crisis, is participating actively in the discussions. “Our experience with epidemics will be crucial in these discussions,” said a Congolese official.

In response to the crisis, the WHO has launched a Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, running from September 2024 to February 2025, requiring $135 million in funding. At the meeting’s opening, international health leaders pledged additional financial support to combat the Mpox outbreak in Africa.

Source: Africa News