ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to stop the outbreak of human-to-human transmission of mpox through coordinated global, regional and national efforts. This follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director General on 14 August.
Through an official WHO broadcast quoted on Tuesday, 27 August 2024, the current plan relies on input from Member States, who were briefed on the plan on Friday, 23 August.
The plan covers a six-month period from September 2024-February 2025, with an estimated funding requirement of US$135 million for the response of WHO, Member States, partners including the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities and researchers.
An application for funding to meet WHO’s needs in the plan will be launched soon. The plan, which is based on interim and permanent recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General, focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, preparedness and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures such as diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimizing transmission from animals to humans; and empowering the community to actively participate in preventing and controlling outbreaks.
Strategic vaccination efforts will focus on individuals at highest risk, including close contacts of recent cases and health care workers, to break chains of transmission.
At the global level, the emphasis is on strategic leadership, timely evidence-based guidance, and access to preventive medical measures for the most at-risk groups in affected countries.
WHO is working with various international, regional, national and local partners and networks to improve coordination in key areas of preparedness, preparedness and response. This includes involvement with the ACT-Accelerator Principals group; Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response; Research and Development Blueprint for Epidemics; and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net).
WHO Research and Development Blueprint, together with Africa CDC, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will host a virtual scientific conference on August 29-30, 2024 to align mpox research with outbreak control goals .
“The mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled and stopped,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General.
“Doing this requires a comprehensive and coordinated action plan between international institutions and national and local partners, civil society, researchers and producers, as well as our Member States. This SPRP provides such a plan, based on the principles of justice, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and cross-sector coordination.” he explained.
WHO headquarters and regional offices have established incident management support teams to lead preparedness, preparedness and response activities, and significantly increased staff numbers in affected countries.
In the Africa Region, where the need is greatest, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in collaboration with the Africa CDC, will jointly spearhead the coordination of response efforts to mpox. WHO AFRO and Africa CDC have agreed on a one plan, one budget approach as part of the African Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which is currently being prepared.
At national and sub-national levels, health authorities will adapt strategies to respond to current epidemiological trends. (AT Network)
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