SADC to Convene Virtual Health Ministers Meeting on Mpox Epidemic
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is set to hold a virtual meeting of Health Ministers on 4 September 2024 to evaluate the Mpox epidemiological outlook and craft a unified regional response.
This critical discussion comes in the wake of Mpox being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHIEC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The upcoming meeting aims to address the current Mpox situation across the African continent and within the SADC region.
Ministers will deliberate on strategies to enhance public health surveillance at the national level and improve cross-border disease surveillance to boost detection rates, strengthen prevention measures, and curb the spread of Mpox.
One of the key objectives will be to develop and implement multi-sectoral interventions to contain and control the spread of Mpox, particularly in countries that have not yet experienced outbreaks.
This approach is intended to facilitate early detection and timely treatment, thereby mitigating the impact of the disease.
The decision to convene this urgent meeting follows the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 17 August 2024.
During the summit, leaders expressed solidarity with affected member states and mandated the SADC Secretariat to organize a high-level meeting of Health Ministers to address the Mpox crisis.
Prior to the Ministers’ meeting, a preparatory session involving Senior Health Officials will take place. This session will focus on drafting documents and recommendations for the Ministers to review and act upon during their discussions.
Sources: SADC
