[September 09, 2024] In response to the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declaring mpox a public health emergency of international and continental concern, Africa Frontline First affirms its commitment to supporting a coordinated response across the continent. The rise in mpox cases highlights the essential role of a professional community health workforce in building resilient health systems capable of responding to emerging threats while ensuring the continuity of primary health services.
As communities respond to new outbreaks of mpox, we urge governments to include community health workers in their response strategies. Well-equipped, trained community health workers are instrumental in educating communities, conducting disease surveillance, referring patients to care, and maintaining routine health services during crises. As prior health emergencies like COVID-19 have demonstrated, investment in paid, professionalized community health workers is critical to a country’s effective response.
As of August 26, via a report from Africa CDC, 13 African Union member states have recorded mpox outbreaks. Cases across Africa have soared, with more than 18,238 suspected cases, 3,381 confirmed cases, and 590 deaths. These numbers likely represent a fraction of the true caseload, given weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing, and contact tracing.
Africa Frontline First is closely monitoring the evolving situation. We remain committed to supporting our partners across the continent—including ministries of health and implementing organizations—as well as working alongside Africa CDC on response and advocacy efforts. As a key partner to Africa CDC, Africa Frontline First echoes the urgent call for global solidarity and increased support, particularly in scaling up testing and vaccination efforts across the continent. We will continue our vital work with partners to strengthen community health systems and advocate for increased investment in community health workers to address this and future public health emergencies.
About Africa Frontline First
Africa Frontline First is an Africa-led partnership between the Community Health Impact Coalition, the Financing Alliance for Health, and Last Mile Health, under the leadership of H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Africa Frontline First works in partnership with governments, donors, implementing partners, and regional institutions to close the community health funding gap in Africa and reach 100 million people with essential care by 2030. For more information, visit www.africafrontlinefirst.org