Southern countries urge regional bloc to convene health ministers to assess impact of mpox
By Ibrahim Umar
Kanempress News
18th August 2024
Leaders of the Southern African Development Community, SADC have urged the regional bloc’s secretariat to convene an urgent meeting of health ministers to assess the impact of mpox in the region.
The leaders also urged member states to strengthen disease surveillance, diagnostic testing, clinical care, and infection prevention and control.
SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi stated this while delivering a communique at the end of the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Zimbabwe.
Magosi said the summit had noted the mpox situation on the continent and in the SADC region and the declaration by the World Health Organization of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.
The summit extended solidarity and support to member states affected by the disease and further requested World Health Organization, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and partners to avail resources towards the mpox response in the region.
