By Lerato Mpembe
As Africa grapples with the Mpox outbreak, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a united and proactive response, urging the continent to learn from its experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his address to the African Union (AU) Heads of State during a virtual meeting on Sunday, President Ramaphosa emphasized the need for equitable distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures across Africa. He called for collaboration, innovation, and the development of local manufacturing capacity to effectively combat Mpox and future epidemics.
“We need to ensure equitable distribution of medical countermeasures based on transparent criteria and readiness to initiate vaccination. We ask the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to lead the consultation with member states to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures,” President Ramaphosa said in his statement.
As the continent has done before, Africa is once again challenged to rise to the occasion and address a public health crisis. However, this time, Ramaphosa insists that it is imperative for African countries to leverage the lessons learned from COVID-19, particularly regarding the swift distribution of vaccines, the establishment of data-sharing systems, and the need for a continent-wide epidemic response plan.
The Importance of Equitable Vaccine Distribution
Central to President Ramaphosa’s message was the call for equitable access to Mpox vaccines. Drawing from the inequities that plagued Africa’s response to COVID-19, he stressed the need to avoid similar pitfalls. During the pandemic, many African nations struggled to secure sufficient vaccines, with much of the initial global supply going to wealthier countries. This left the continent vulnerable and lagging in its pandemic response.
The President highlighted that Africa could not afford to repeat this experience with Mpox. He emphasized that the distribution of medical countermeasures must be based on transparent criteria, and readiness to initiate vaccination must be prioritized.
The President tasked the Africa CDC with the responsibility of consulting with member states to create a framework for ensuring that vaccines and other treatments reach every corner of the continent, particularly those areas that are often overlooked.
Building a Strong Data-Sharing Framework
To support effective responses to epidemics, President Ramaphosa called for a stronger focus on data sharing across Africa. He noted that the Africa CDC’s mandate on data sharing is the foundation for global health security, and its success would ensure that public health threats are detected and addressed swiftly.
“We need a finance plan that is evidence-based, with sound forecasting of needs. The Africa CDC mandate on data sharing is the bedrock of global health security. This will help to ensure that public health threats are detected and shared across borders and with other continental and global stakeholders,” President Ramaphosa emphasized.
Accurate and timely data would allow African countries to better mobilize resources and direct funds where they are needed most. Ramaphosa’s call for African countries to use the systems established by Africa CDC demonstrates a commitment to a data-driven approach, which will be crucial in tracking the spread of Mpox and other health threats.
The Need for an Africa-Based Mpox Vaccine
One of the key challenges Africa faces in the fight against Mpox is the lack of locally manufactured vaccines. The President acknowledged this issue and stressed that the continent must prioritize the development of African-based manufacturing to improve access and reduce costs.
“We must co-develop these medical countermeasures, share intellectual property, and ensure technology transfer. In this regard, we welcome the agreement between Africa CDC and Bavarian Nordic to transfer the Mpox vaccine technology to African manufacturers,” Ramaphosa stated.
The agreement between Africa CDC and Bavarian Nordic is a promising step toward addressing the vaccine shortage on the continent. By 2025, African manufacturers could be producing Mpox vaccines, making the continent less reliant on external suppliers. This would not only improve access but also strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to future health emergencies.
With financial support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, Afreximbank, the European Union, and other partners, Ramaphosa noted that Africa is well-positioned to begin local vaccine production in the coming years.
Challenges in Securing Mpox Vaccines
Despite the progress, Ramaphosa was clear that Africa is still struggling to secure sufficient supplies of the Mpox vaccine. Like the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa’s access to vaccines has been limited, and the continent has faced challenges in obtaining the treatments needed to protect its population.
He expressed frustration over this recurring issue, calling for a more robust approach to address the supply challenges.
“In the meantime, we appreciate the support from a number of countries to get vaccines in Africa. The COVID-19 experience taught us that we need predictable demand and off-take guarantees for the vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics manufactured in Africa. African countries should therefore buy vaccines and other health products manufactured in Africa to ensure sustainable manufacturing on our continent,” said the President.
This call for African countries to purchase health products made on the continent would ensure the long-term sustainability of local manufacturing efforts, boosting Africa’s autonomy in responding to health crises.
Strengthening Health Infrastructure and Surveillance Systems
Beyond vaccine production, Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of enhancing Africa’s healthcare infrastructure to ensure that frontline health workers are equipped with the necessary diagnostic tools, vaccines, and antiviral treatments to respond to Mpox and future epidemics.
“We must ensure that frontline health workers have the necessary diagnostic tools, vaccines, and antiviral treatments. We need tested public health messages that promote awareness and prevention,” the President said.
To effectively combat Mpox, he called for a dual approach: targeted vaccination responses to outbreaks, and continued vaccinations for high-risk populations. This strategy would create a buffer against future outbreaks and help protect the most vulnerable communities across the continent.
Furthermore, Ramaphosa urged African countries to strengthen their surveillance systems to better track and respond to the spread of Mpox. Enhanced surveillance would not only aid in monitoring the current outbreak but also provide valuable data to prevent future health crises.
Operationalising the Africa Epidemic Fund
As part of his broader vision for Africa’s epidemic preparedness, President Ramaphosa called for the immediate operationalisation of the Africa Epidemic Fund. This fund would serve as the primary vehicle for managing financial resources during health emergencies, providing much-needed support to countries facing epidemics.
“We call for the urgent operationalisation of the Africa Epidemic Fund as the primary vehicle for epidemic response financial management,” he stated.
The establishment of this fund is crucial in ensuring that African countries have the financial resources necessary to respond quickly and effectively to health crises. With a dedicated funding mechanism in place, African countries would be better equipped to mobilize resources, purchase vaccines, and support their healthcare systems.
The Role of Global Partnerships
In his address, Ramaphosa also commended the efforts of global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners who have been instrumental in developing Mpox preparedness and response plans. He specifically praised Africa CDC for its leadership in building the first-ever Continental Incident Management Team, which will play a critical role in managing the Mpox outbreak.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” Ramaphosa said, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Africa CDC, in partnership with the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and Bavarian Nordic, has secured over 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine to be distributed across affected African states. Ramaphosa emphasized that Africa CDC would oversee the equitable distribution of these vaccines, ensuring that local needs are prioritized.
The Impact of Mpox in South Africa
While the Mpox outbreak has not yet reached the scale of COVID-19, South Africa has seen a growing number of cases. Since the outbreak began in May 2024, the country has recorded 25 positive cases, including three deaths. Gauteng province has been the most affected, with 12 cases reported, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11 cases, and the Western Cape with two cases.
South African health authorities have been vigilant in tracking and managing the spread of the virus, and the country remains committed to working closely with Africa CDC and other international partners to contain the outbreak.
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