MPOX: Nigeria, Others To Get WHO $135m Fund

Nigeria and several other countries currently grappling with the Monkeypox (MPOX) outbreak are set to benefit from a $135 million funding initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The organization announced this significant financial support as part of a newly developed global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), aimed at curbing human-to-human transmission of MPOX through coordinated global, regional, and national efforts.

In a statement released on Monday, WHO emphasized the necessity of this funding to address the ongoing public health crisis.

This follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General on 14 August.

Although the current plan is subject to inputs by WHO’s member states, who were briefed on the plan on 23 August, the plan covers the six-month period of September 2024-February 2025.

During the period, a $135m funding need is envisioned for the response by WHO, member states, and partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) which Nigeria is a member, communities, and researchers, among others.

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The plan, which builds on the temporary recommendations and standing recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures like diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimising animal-to-human transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak prevention and control.

Strategic vaccination efforts will focus on individuals at the highest risk, including close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to interrupt transmission chains.

At the global level, the emphasis will be on strategic leadership, timely evidence-based guidance, and access to medical countermeasures for the most at-risk groups in affected countries.

WHO said it is working with a broad range of international, regional, national and local partners and networks to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness, readiness and response. This includes engagement with the ACT-Accelerator Principals group; the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response; the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics; and the interim Medical Counter Measures Network (i-MCM Net).

“The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries can be controlled and can be stopped.

“Doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil society, researchers and manufacturers, and our Member States. This SPRP provides that plan, based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and coordination across sectors,” said Dr Ghebreyesus.