The ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa has exposed a glaring and dangerous gap in global health equity. The situation is so serious that even the Red Cross and Red Crescent are sounding the alarm, demanding an urgent increase in the supply of diagnostic kits, treatments, and vaccines to the continent. “There is a critical shortage of testing, treatment, and vaccines across the continent,” warned Bronwyn Nichol of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) during a media call on Friday. The shortfall, she said, is “severely hampering the ability to contain the outbreak.”
This new strain of the mpox virus, which has now made its way to Sweden, is raising fresh concerns that wealthy nations might reconsider their commitments to helping Africa. The confirmation of the first infection outside Africa on Thursday only adds to the urgency. But as the World Health Organization (WHO) had already declared the disease a global public health emergency, the fear is that these cases in the West might shift attention and resources away from Africa, where the need is greatest.
Nichol voiced her concerns, saying, “I’m sure this will make some governments think a bit more as well… hopefully, that doesn’t change some of the planned donations.” Her statement barely masks the frustration felt by many who see a familiar pattern emerging, where global health crises are only taken seriously when they cross into the developed world.
WHO official Margaret Harris, also on the media call, shared a grim prediction: “We expect that we will see cases elsewhere.” She pointed out that the case in Sweden “shows the system is working” and that countries have “stepped up their vigilance” to identify and monitor the virus. However, this heightened vigilance in Europe contrasts sharply with the situation in Africa, where the lack of resources continues to undermine the response.
Meanwhile, the head of the global vaccine group Gavi mentioned that they have up to $500 million ready to deploy for getting vaccines to the countries most affected by the mpox outbreak in Africa. This might sound like a substantial sum, but in the face of a rapidly spreading virus and the chronic underfunding of healthcare systems in many African nations, it’s a drop in the ocean.
As usual, the developed world seems ready to react swiftly to protect its own populations, but what about Africa? The continent continues to suffer with a virus that should have been a priority from the start. The question now is whether global health organizations will rally to Africa’s aid before it’s too late or if we’ll witness yet another tragic instance of too little, too late.
