A consortium of African researchers has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling recurring epidemics in Africa and preventing future pandemics. The proposal for the Mpox Research Consortium (MpoxReC) was unveiled during the Mpox in Africa—High-Level Emergency Regional Meeting, held in the Democratic Republic of Congo from April 11 to 13.

Led by Jean B. Nachega, Professor Extraordinary of Medicine at Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the MpoxReC aims to establish a multidisciplinary, multi-country research network dedicated to advancing the elimination of mpox—a disease endemic to 12 countries in Africa.

Nachega emphasized the urgent need for sustainable local diagnostic laboratories and research capacity for mpox, highlighting Africa's longstanding unmet needs in this regard. The MpoxReC, he explained, will address these gaps by providing outcome monitoring, surveillance, and capacity-building initiatives across endemic African countries, while fostering South-South collaborations and research partnerships.

The research group, comprising global partners and African collaborators, will initially focus on Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Republic of Congo. Notable leaders include Professor Nadia Sam-Agudu from the University of Cape Coast Ghana, Professor Samuel Nakoune Yandoko from Pasteur Institute in Bangui, and co-principal investigators Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe and Professor Placide Mbala from the DRC's Institute National Research Biomedical.

The MpoxReC's expansion to other African countries will follow, with the ultimate goal of strengthening epidemic preparedness frameworks and enhancing research capacity continent-wide.

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by recent upsurges in mpox cases across Africa. Between January 2022 and November 2023, over 91,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox were reported, with Africa bearing over 80% of global pox-related deaths during this period. This alarming trend signals the pressing need for concerted efforts to control the disease and address existing gaps in global health security.

The proposal for the Mpox Research Consortium represents a pivotal step towards enhancing Africa's resilience against epidemics and safeguarding public health. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing, the MpoxReC embodies the continent's proactive approach to addressing pressing health challenges and advancing scientific research.

 

Article by RB Reporter

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