The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has called for urgent global action to increase access to Mpox vaccines and prioritize public health over profits, emphasizing the importance of health security.
AHF Nigeria’s Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie, highlighted the serious threat posed by the recent Mpox outbreak in Africa.
He stressed the need to address vaccine inequity, which has hindered the continent’s ability to respond effectively.
Ijezie urged governments, international organizations, and pharmaceutical companies to prioritize public health globally, stating that “inequity anywhere is a threat to health everywhere.”
Ijezie raised concerns that the response to Mpox mirrors the vaccine inequalities seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He urged Western countries and Japan to expedite Mpox vaccine donations to Africa and called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fast-track approval of viable vaccine options.
Ijezie emphasized the need for patent waivers and technology transfers to enable local vaccine production, reducing reliance on Western manufacturers.
With over 22,800 confirmed cases and 620 deaths in 13 African countries, the Mpox outbreak remains a critical public health challenge, particularly for children.
In Nigeria, the NCDC reported 48 confirmed cases out of 868 suspected as of August.
By Justina Auta
