20 health workers, 65 community workers and over 350 sex workers.<\/strong> This rapid response helped raise awareness among 70,000 people and strengthened surveillance and the medical response to the epidemic.<\/p>\n\u00ab Today, we are very concerned because the Mpox virus primarily affects the most vulnerable people. To save lives, we must act now by vaccinating the population and supporting health systems. Our teams will intervene in 7 key health zones that account for 86% of cases. We will focus on training health personnel, strengthening infection prevention and control, supporting psychosocial care, and enhancing community awareness and surveillance.<\/em> \u00bb, states Mamadou Kaba Barry, General Coordinator of M\u00e9decins du Monde in the DRC.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe international network of M\u00e9decins du Monde is already present in six of the seven health zones and collaborates with the local Health Zone Central Office. The organization will target those where local authorities have already set up dedicated Mpox treatment centers and will support the existing system. The international network of M\u00e9decins du Monde will work there with people infected by the virus and the most threatened communities.<\/p>\n
Beyond the DRC, the international network of M\u00e9decins du Monde is also operational in neighboring countries, where the epidemic is undergoing the same scale shift: in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and the CAR<\/strong>, for example, it is in contact with health ministries and is already conducting awareness-raising activities. However, the emergence of new clades, coupled with the uncertain availability and high cost of the vaccine, make Mpox a real challenge for already weakened health systems.<\/p>\nOn the African continent, all strains combined, Africa CDC<\/strong> (African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) has noted a 160% increase in cases by the end of July compared to 2023<\/strong>, with nearly 19,000 cases and nearly seven hundred deaths in thirteen African countries. Urgent action is needed.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe international network of M\u00e9decins du Monde is therefore calling for all necessary means to be implemented to ensure indiscriminate access to screening, care and vaccination services. The maintenance of health services in remote and insecure areas must be guaranteed. The people furthest from health facilities must be included in vaccination campaigns. No one should be left behind for security, logistical or financial reasons.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Note to editors<\/h2>\n
Like the Ebola epidemic or the COVID-19 pandemic, Mpox is a zoonosis, meaning a disease transmitted from animals to humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact, such as touching, kissing or sexual intercourse.<\/p>\n
M\u00e9decins du Monde has been working in the DRC for over 20 years with programs in primary health care, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and environmental health. The actions related to Mpox will be as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n