In a bid to enhance Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (Africa CDC) response to the ongoing mpox outbreak, Singapore’s Ministry of Health has pledged a support package consisting of diagnostic kits and testing supplies capable of conducting up to 50,000 tests.
The mpox outbreak, declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC on August 13, 2024, and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) a day later, has spread across 19 African Union member states. Since the start of the year, more than 12,000 confirmed cases have been reported, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi among the hardest-hit countries.
Testing shortages have been a significant obstacle in managing the outbreak, limiting efforts to detect cases, trace contacts, and implement effective public health interventions. To address this, Africa CDC and WHO launched a joint continental response plan emphasizing the expansion of laboratory testing capacity. This includes centralizing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing sites, activating additional facilities, deploying near-point-of-care testing, training laboratory personnel, and ensuring an adequate supply of testing resources.
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, highlighted the importance of a unified response, stating:
“For the first time, we have developed a comprehensive continental response plan for disease outbreaks, addressing all pillars of outbreak response, including enhanced diagnostics and genome sequencing. We thank the Ministry of Health, Singapore, for its generous contribution. We hope this will pave the way for broader cooperation between African Union member states and Singapore in strengthening public health initiatives.”
Singapore’s Minister for Health, Mr. Ong Ye Kung, emphasized the global nature of health security, saying:
“Singapore’s contribution to the Africa CDC underscores our commitment to strong international cooperation in public health. By helping other countries, we also strengthen our own region’s resilience. Global health security must always be a shared international responsibility.”
This partnership represents a significant step in bolstering Africa CDC’s capacity to manage mpox and other public health threats effectively.
