Dakar, Senegal – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is confident in its ability to secure $600 million to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak ravaging the continent, according to the agency’s Director General, Jean Kaseya.
Kaseya’s assurance comes amidst a significant rise in mpox cases across Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August following the rapid spread of a new strain originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Absolutely, I am confident we can raise the $600 million,” Kaseya told reporters on Thursday. This revised figure marks a sharp increase from the $245 million initially estimated by Africa CDC in August. The agency has so far secured only $20 million, prompting concerns about funding shortfalls. Kaseya did not elaborate on the reasons behind the cost increase, which excludes vaccine procurement.
Africa CDC is exploring various avenues to bridge the funding gap. Potential sources include contributions from African Union member states, development partners, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector.
“We have received pledges of assistance from GAVI, the vaccine alliance,” Kaseya revealed. Additionally, discussions are underway with The Pandemic Fund, a global entity dedicated to financing pandemic response efforts. Kaseya emphasized the importance of technology transfer to Africa, stating it could reduce vaccine prices by a staggering 80-90%.
Last month, Africa CDC initiated talks with Bavarian Nordic, a Danish biotechnology company, to establish mpox vaccine production within Africa. This initiative, according to Kaseya, would significantly improve vaccine affordability for African nations.
The Director General will announce the total amount raised at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. As of today, Africa CDC data indicates over 26,000 suspected mpox cases and 724 deaths across the continent in 2024.
The situation in the DRC is particularly concerning. A statement released by UNICEF on Thursday highlighted that children under 15 constitute roughly 60% of suspected cases and a shocking 80% of fatalities in the country this year.
