This comes days after WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern based on the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to at least 13 other African countries, with several imported cases in Europe and Asia.
In a recent opinion piece published in the French magazine Jeune Afrique, Dr. Mihigo questioned why Africa has been left to struggle with repeated Mpox outbreaks for decades, despite the infection being caused by a virus known for many decades, unlike recent health emergencies such as COVID-19, which was first reported in China.
Dr. Mihigo called for concerted efforts to eradicate the outbreak of the viral disease, which had also been declared a public health emergency of continental security by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
He emphasized that increased collaboration between different countries, the private sector, and research bodies is necessary to lower the cost of vaccine production and immunization, thereby improving access to vaccines in low-income countries, which are often the most affected.
'Continental and global public health institutions, including financial partners, must contribute. Significant investments in research and development for local pharmaceutical industries are still necessary. The accumulation of patents, technologies, and vaccines in one part of the world is a counterproductive tactic. On the other hand, the creation of platforms and mechanisms for inter-state solidarity is necessary,' Dr. Mihigo explained.
For the collaborations to materialize, Dr. Mihigo said, WHO and Africa CDC have a 'crucial role to play'.
'Africa should not face this epidemic alone. Nor should it bear the human cost of a disease we can and must eradicate on its own. By acting today, we can not only contain and eradicate monkeypox but also prepare our health systems to face tomorrow's health threats,' DR. Mihigo stated.
Dr. Mihigo argued that systematic vaccination efforts have been halted since the eradication of smallpox in 1977, even though smallpox vaccination provided cross-protection against monkeypox.
According to him, there are about 200,000 vaccine doses available worldwide for the Mpox virus, a figure that is far too low considering the actual needs.
To address the threat that Mpox poses, he explained that several million vaccine doses are necessary to meet the demands of the East African region alone.
At the same time, Dr Mihigo emphasized the need to strengthen local health systems to handle emerging diseases.
'Developing a comprehensive strategy to combat this disease by strengthening capacities and empowering our health systems must be our priority,' he observed.
'It is time for Africa to place health at the heart of its development. This requires better resilience of health systems, adapted to local contexts, including socio-cultural, economic, and environmental determinants.'
He observed that the resurgence of Mpox outbreak also calls for the emergence of an intra-African and international public health pact.
'The WHO Africa office, for which I am a candidate for leadership, must play a pivotal role in redefining, in collaboration with the concerned countries, health priorities,' he stated.
The Regional Committee of the WHO African Region will vote to nominate the next Regional Director in a closed-door meeting during its 74th session from 26th to 30th August 2024 in Congo Brazzaville.
Dr. Mihigo is running against Dr. N'da Konan Michel Yao from Ivory Coast, Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo of Niger, Senegalese Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall and Tanzanian Doctor Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
