MPox: Doctors of the World International Network takes action against the virus’ resurgence

Since September 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been at the epicenter of an Mpox outbreak, which the WHO declared a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ on August 14. The Doctors of the World International Network, having been alerted to the situation, was already in the area and promptly began their response efforts. Our urgent priorities include a comprehensive strategy that combines both curative and preventive measures.

South Kivu has faced a severe Mpox epidemic, with 3.751 confirmed cases according to regional health authorities. The Doctors of the World International Network’s rapid response mission have trained and supported 20 healthcare workers, 65 community workers, and over 350 sex workers. This intervention has enabled to raise awareness among 70,000 people and strengthened the surveillance and the medical response to the epidemic.

The Doctors of the World International Network is already present in six of the seven proposed health zones and collaborates with the local Central Office of the Health Zone. The organization will target the ones where local authorities have already established Mpox treatment centers and will support this existing setup. There, the Doctors of the World International Network will be working with people infected by the virus and communities most at risk from Mpox.

In addition to the DRC, the Doctors of the World International Network is also active in neighbouring countries, where the epidemic is undergoing the same change in scale: in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and CAR, for example, it is in contact with the Ministries of Health and is already conducting awareness-raising actions. 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.

On the African continent, taking all strains together, the CDC Africa (African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) has noted a 160% increase in Mpox cases by the end of July compared to 2023, i.e. almost 19,000 cases and almost seven hundred deaths in thirteen African countries. There is an urgent need for action.

The Doctors of the World International Network is therefore calling for all necessary measures to guarantee equitable access to screening, care and vaccines. Health services must be maintained in isolated areas plagued by insecurity. People who are farthest from health facilities must be included in vaccination campaigns. No one should be left out for security, logistical or financial reasons.

Doctors of the World Action

Like Ebola and Covid-19, Mpox is a zoonosis, a disease transmitted from animals to humans. Human-to-human transmission of the virus occurs through close contact, such as touching, kissing or sexual intercourse.

Doctors of the World has been working in the DRC for over 20 years with programs in primary health care, sexual and reproductive health rights and environmental health. On Mpox, the interventions will consist of:

• Coordination: organize local and technical coordination meetings
• Guidance: Coach psychologists at the General Referral Hospital (GRH), offer support to caregivers and provide psychosocial support to patients to reduce stigma and promote care-seeking behavior
• Supply: Provide Necessary IPC (infection prevention and control) material
• Hygiene: establish hygiene committees in health facilities and construct sanitation facilities to improve hygiene standards
• Health: train healthcare personnel In IPC practice and support triage processes at the GRH
• Alert: facilitate community-based reporting of alerts and information and organize follow-up meetings to review alerts and responses
• Surveillance and reporting: by training community leaders
• Awareness raising: produce and distribute communication materials on Mpox prevention, organize information sessions targeting groups at high risks, and implement harm reduction interventions for sex workers and other groups at high risks

Specifically, the actions will focus on the following groups:

• Individuals infected with the virus (suspected and confirmed cases) in the general population
• Healthcare workers, community workers (RECO), and community leaders
• Specific groups at high risk of contamination and transmission: especially sex workers, children 0-5 years old, traders, miners and mineral sellers.

Photographs: 

Caroline Thirion

Alexis Aubin