By Hamu Madzedze
Online Journalist-Zimbabwe
The World Health Organisation(WHO) has released 1.45 million united states dollars to immediately scale up MPox support surveillance ,preparedness and response activities.
WHO anticipates an immediate funding requirement of an initial 15 million United States dollars to support MPox surveillance,preparedness and response activities.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said significant efforts are already underway in close collaboration with communities and governments with country teams working on the front line to help reinforce measures to curb MPox.
"With the virus spreading rapidly , we are escalating our response through coordinated global efforts to support countries in combating the outbreaks and achieving timely control "said Dr Moeti.
Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina highlighted that the current upsurge of MPox in parts of Africa along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the MPox virus is an emergency not only for Africa but for the entire globe.
"It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself because MPox has been neglected over the years and this led to a global outbreak in 2022" said Professor Ogoina.
MPox has been reported in the DRC for more than a decade and the number of cases reported each year has increased steadily over the period and several outbreaks have been reported in other countries with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared last week Mpox a public health emergency of International concern.
Common symptoms of Mpox include a rash lasting for two to four weeks which may be started with or followed by fever ,headache,muscle aches ,back pain ,low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
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