By Shadrack Nyakoe
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have raised alarm over the govemment’s 6.7 billion Mpox response fund, stating it is insufficient and not effectively prioritized.
In a statement to the press, CSOs’ representatives urged the government to refocus the Mpox Response Fund allocation towards critical areas like vaccine procurement, advanced diagnostic tools, and community sensitization.
On Sunday, the government announced a prioritization plan designating Ksh. 800 milion for temporary isolation spaces and Ksh. 91 million for healthcare worker training, with the remaining funds allocated to efforts such as screening, procurement of PPEs, and community-based surveillance.
Notably, no provision was made for vaccine procurement.
The CSOs cautioned that for a highly contagious disease with a death-per-infection ratio of about 3.33%, the stakes are high.
“Mpox could follow the same path as COVID-19. The reported five cases today could turn into thousands, just like one COVID case led to more than 300,000 infections and nearly 6,000 deaths. We must act now before it’s too late,” said Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, Country Program Director at AHF Kenya.
They further urged the WHO to expedite the review and approval of altemative Mpox vaccines to enhance affordability and accessibility by increasing the number of manufacturers.
Currently, the only available vaccine, MVA-BN, is priced at KES 12,900 per dose, making it prohibitively expensive for many.
Dr. Kinyanjui stressed the urgent need to address these high costs through technology and knowledge transfers, including patent waivers, to enable regional vaccine production.
“These measures will increase vaccine supply, reduce costs, and strengthen the global response to Mpox,” he stated.
With Mpox cases confirmed in 18 African countries, including Kenya and neighbouring Uganda, the CSOs expressed concerns about limited diagnostic capacity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that many suspected Mpox cases, though clinically consistent with the disease, remain untested and unconfirmed.
Of the allocated Ksh. 6.7 billion, only Ksh. 10 million has been earmarked for screening at border points, with no amount designated for advanced diagnostic tools crucial for rapid and accurate case detection.
James Kamau from the Kenya Treatment Access Movement (KETAM) urged the government to take funding and accountability seriously.
“We are asking the Kenyan government to allocate funds specifically for disaster management including pandemics. In 2022, the National Treasury developed a Disaster Management Fund, but it has yet to be operationalized. As we work towards universal health coverage and the launch of the Social Health Authority, disaster management remains unaddressed through the SHA,” he stated.
His comments come as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reports over 21,000 cases and more than 700 deaths from Mpox.
Particularly alarming, in just the past month, more than 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of the new Clade 1b variant have emerged in countries neighbouring the DRC-nations that had not previously reported Mpox.
This development raises serious concerns about the potential for the virus to spread even further.
Kamau further emphasized the need for accountability in the national response to the outbreak to prevent corruption and avoid a repeat of past mismanagement.
“We must avoid a situation where we have Mpox billionaires, as we did with the COVID-19 millionaires. Transparency in managing the response funds is crucial,” he added, underscoring the importance of mitigating the potential for misuse of funds.
Faith Ndungu, Advocacy and Communication Manager of the Health NGOs’ Network (HENNET), highlighted the significance of collective action in combating the outbreak.
She stressed the critical role that civil society and communities play in surveillance, prevention, and response.
“It is important for us to acknowledge the role of collective action,” Faith stated. “As civil society and communities, we are crucial in prevention, referrals, and sensitization, and we urge the Ministry of Health to empower us in these efforts.”
She also highlighted the readiness of their nationwide network of organizations to collaborate with the government in addressing the Mpox outbreak.
In alignment with this sentiment, NEPHAK urged the government to prioritize community awareness and vaccine access, particularly for vulnerable populations such as people living with HIV.
“Mpox poses a serious risk to our communities, especially to children living with HIV. We must enhance community sensitization for those most at risk. By educating communities on Mpox, we can mitigate fear, anxiety, and misinformation,” stated a NEPHAK Representative.
The press conference was attended by representatives from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya, the Kenya Treatment Access Movement (KETAM), North Star Alliance, Health NGOs’ Network (HENNET), the Pandemic Action Network (PAN), and the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK).
They underscored the importance of community networks and civil society organizations (CSOs) in addressing the Mpox outbreak, offering their support to the government’s response efforts.
Read also:- Kenya, Ethiopia’s COVID-19 Immunization Success Provides Insights for Mpox Response, AFIDEP Finds
Mpox Response Fund
