The Aurum Institute’s Post

Join the GET Webinar Series: May Edition on "Opportunities and Challenges for Scaling up Vaccine Production in Africa" 📅 May 29, 2024 ⏰ 12 p.m. (WAT) The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role of vaccines in global health security. However, ensuring equitable access to vaccines remains a significant challenge, especially in Africa. With diverse demographics and varying healthcare infrastructure, Africa faces unique hurdles in securing an ample vaccine supply. This webinar aims to explore strategic opportunities, tackle challenges, and foster collaboration to strengthen Africa's resilience in vaccine production. Gain insights into the opportunities and challenges of scaling up vaccine production in Africa. Network and exchange knowledge with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and public health experts. Register Now: https://lnkd.in/dSnmHkay #VaccineEquity #HealthForAll #GET #GETAfrica #WebinarSeries

🌍 Global solidarity is crucial during the mpox outbreak in Africa. Urgent support for equitable vaccine access is needed to improve health outcomes. Let’s ensure lessons from past crises guide our actions now. 💉🤝 https://lnkd.in/epWvvPC4

NEW! Joint call for action on #mpox! Health leaders from lead agencies, academia, CSOs & expert panels including Pandemic Action Network, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA), and more have come together to urge action now on the escalating #mpox outbreak. Access to tools like vaccines has been wholly inadequate in endemic countries including DRC, and now #mpox is mutating, affecting even more people, leading to child deaths, and spreading across borders. We call for: - Urgent political attention and action - Investment in the millions of dollars - Millions of vaccine doses and a massive increase in testing - Investing in and empowering African researchers - Full community engagement OUR JOINT CALL TO ACTION --> bit.ly/EndMpox

🌟 Explore the inspiring journey of a devoted father from Afghanistan, who has been living in Greece for 20 years. 🤝 He has kindly joined RIVER-EU as a participant in our mission to reduce vaccine inequalities across Europe. His story underscores the transformative power of community engagement in health initiatives. 🔗 Read more about how RIVER-EU is bridging gaps in health equity through a participatory approach and trust-building. Prolepsis Institute #VaccinEquity #HealthEquity #HealthForAll https://lnkd.in/d98pc4u4

Monkeypox (Mpox) Outbreak Declared A Public Health Emergency of International Concern  The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in many other countries in Africa has been determined by WHO to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (........ #monkeypox #monkeypoxvirus #Mpox #mpoxvaccines #MPVX #WHO SCIEU Team

On 13 August 2024, the Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recognised the Africa CDC’s declaration and were relieved that the World Health Organization (WHO) on 14 August declared the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a growing number of African countries a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). MSF strongly supports WHO’s appeal to donors to make the necessary funds available for a comprehensive and coordinated response to the ongoing outbreak covering all components of outbreak response, including surveillance, building laboratory capacity, community sensitization and engagement, and guaranteeing peoples’ access to treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics. Read more: https://bit.ly/3YObcER

Great to see US media highlighting the transformation in public health occurring on the African continent under the leadership of Africa CDC. Strengthening existing health institutions and supporting the development of new private sector health entities (e.g., vaccine manufacturing) is critical for a continent whose population is booming and that, with the African free trade agreement, is moving toward free movement of goods, people, and services across borders. As the author of this essay writes, "A strategy centered on developed countries propping up disease-specific programs is not the best way to make developing nations resilient against public health threats. The focus should be instead on building in-country institutions that can adapt to future health emergencies." https://lnkd.in/e6MeVRUJ

While the path to expanding vaccine production in Africa faces steep hurdles, the concerted efforts of African nations, supported by international partners, can pave the way for a more self-sufficient and resilient public health infrastructure on the continent. https://lnkd.in/e2rp6Nb9

The Africa CDC today made its first ever declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (#PHECS). The DRC is the epicenter of the mpox epidemic, which has now spread to 16 African countries. Sexual and household transmissions are of particular concern, as is the pediatric cases & deaths. The regional emergency declaration shows an empowered Africa taking control of its own destiny. I welcome African unity & an effective response. The African Union has pledged $10 million in unspent COVID funds. USG must step up with with funding & vaccines. If Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declares a World Health Organization PHEIC this week, it must mobilize funding and a coordinated response based on equity and solidarity. It would be the first test of the IHR, especially its new core principle of equity. And don't discount the possibility of pandemic potential. The efficient sexual transmission poses a serious risk. If this mpox outbreak spills over to Europe, it will quickly spread globally including the US. We can't afford selfishness and complacency. We need unity and solidarity with our African brothers and sisters. @_AfricanUnion has pledged $10m of unspent COVID funds. USG must step up w/ vaccines 16 countries

South Africa’s National Department of Health has responded decisively to the World Health Organization (WHO) recent classification of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), bolstering health screenings and protocols at its borders. In a statement released on Friday, department spokesperson Foster Mohale emphasised the importance of international cooperation, particularly in light of the WHO’s pronouncement. Mohale underscored the inherent challenges in completely curbing cross-border transmission of diseases, acknowledging that “diseases have no boundaries.” He announced that, in partnership with the Border Management Authority, South Africa has escalated health surveillance measures at all ports of entry to prevent the further spread of mpox. This comes as South Africa records 24 confirmed cases of the virus, resulting in three fatalities, with two additional cases currently under isolation. To read the full article follow this link: https://lnkd.in/d6_h9eJY #DailyNews #TopStories #LocalNews #CityNews #WorldNews #InternationalNews #GlobalNews #Politics #PoliticalNews #Government #Elections #BusinessNews #Economy #MarketUpdate #FinanceNews #TechNews #TechUpdate #Innovation #EntertainmentNews #Immigration #BritishEmpire #HistoryMatters #Inclusion #SocialJustice #CulturalDiversity #HistoricalContext #SportsNews #SportsUpdate #LiveScores #GameDay #HealthNews #Wellness #MedicalNew #HealthUpdate #Environment #ClimateChange #Sustainability #GreenNews #LifestyleNews #TravelNews #FoodNews