By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) on Wednesday said that it is supporting the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a $9.5 million cash injection to boost its emergency response to the latest deadly mpox outbreak.
The agency said that the funding will boost the Government’s response across 6 of the highest transmission provinces: Equateur, Sud-Ubangui, Sankuru, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu, as well as in and around the capital Kinshasa home to 17 million people.
DRC is battling the largest mpox epidemic in the world, with 5,160 confirmed cases and 25 deaths since the beginning of this year.
WHO said the ability to test in DRC remains low due to limited capacity and availability, and the number of suspected cases is around five times the number of laboratory-confirmed cases.
The Global Fund’s contribution will help enhance disease surveillance systems, with special emphasis on strengthening early warning capabilities; strengthen laboratory systems and diagnostics; help community mobilization and communications; strengthen primary care; and implement infection prevention and control measures.
Dr. Roger Kamba, Minister of Health and Social Welfare for the DRC said “Our partnership with the Global Fund and other health partners has a proven track record in reducing infectious diseases.”
Peter Sands, the Fund’s Executive Director said “People living in areas of conflict and crises often face significant barriers to accessing health services due to damaged infrastructure, insecurity and a shortage of trained health personnel and supplies”.
He added “When a disease outbreak occurs in these places, the challenges are compounded. Strong systems of trusted community health workers, health educators and other local responders are essential for stopping disease spread.”
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