CSOs push for swift response, vaccine access, and community engagement

12 December 2024, 2:53 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Civil society organisations (CSOs) today 12^th December 2024 held a press conference to address the growing Mpox outbreak in Uganda, which has significantly intensified since the country’s first confirmed case in July 2024. The outbreak was recently declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PIIECS) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The meeting highlighted the urgent need for increased attention, resources, and action to combat the crisis.

As of December 2024, Uganda has reported 784 cumulative confirmed cases of Mpox, with 102 active admissions, 546 cumulative discharges, and 4 fatalities. The disease has notably affected high-risk groups, including commercial sex workers, street children, truck drivers, fishing communities, individuals living in confined spaces such as prisons and massage parlours, and people with limited access to healthcare. The outbreak is particularly devastating in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, which accounts for 63% of all reported cases, with 364 confirmed cases.

The Mpox outbreak in Uganda disproportionately affects men, with 56% of the reported cases occurring among males. The most affected age group is between 19 and 39 years. Local authorities and health experts are increasingly concerned about the spread within vulnerable populations, including sex workers who are reluctant to seek medical help due to stigma, and individuals in communities where health education and access are limited.

Dian Tibesigwa, Regional Advocacy and Policy Manager for the East West Africa region at AHF Uganda Cares, emphasised the need for coordinated action at both regional and global levels. She noted the critical challenges Uganda faces, such as the absence of vaccines within the country, and the lack of adequate resources and political will to effectively combat the outbreak. “We are grappling with resource shortages, especially the lack of vaccines. This meeting serves to bring together organisations and coalitions working on pandemic preparedness,” Tibesigwa said. She stressed the concerns of need to finance heavily the health sector and the need for collaborating with health CSO to address health concerns

Despite Uganda’s ongoing efforts, Mpox remains a complex issue, complicated by various social and environmental factors. According to studies, Africa faces increasing vulnerability to infectious disease outbreaks, with 22 out of 25 of the world’s most susceptible countries located within the Congo Basin region. Climate change is exacerbating these risks, making pathogens more resilient and capable of evolving.

Dr. Augustine Lubanga, the National Medical Director for AHF Uganda Cares, has called for immediate action to address the public health emergency. CSOs aim to strengthen national response efforts, advocate for increased prioritisation of Mpox in the national health agenda, and ensure sufficient resources are allocated for effective mitigation strategies. “We need a concerted effort to safeguard public health systems and ensure that no one is left behind in this fight,” Dr. Lubanga stressed.

Christine Kyakunzire, a local food seller in Kampala, shared her personal experience of contracting Mpox after coming into contact with a customer who had visible lesions on her body. Kyakunzire initially sought treatment for what was diagnosed as chickenpox but was later referred to the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, where she was tested and confirmed to have Mpox. After six weeks of treatment, she recovered. However, she remains concerned about the lack of vaccines in the country, which she sees as a major obstacle in combating the outbreak.

There is an urgent need for African leaders to prioritise health security. Tibesigwa mentioned that even though some promising initiatives have been put in place, such as the Africa Epidemic Fund and vaccine manufacturing partnerships, they remain underfunded and inadequately operationalised. “We must urge our leaders to provide adequate funding and political will to tackle health crises effectively,” she said. These efforts are critical not only for tackling Mpox but also for addressing other infectious diseases that threaten public health across Africa, such as cholera, the Moband virus, and emerging threats like the Hantavirus.

The lack of sufficient local resources and the slow pace of the African Union’s initiatives for vaccine procurement were also highlighted. There is a pressing need to ensure that African nations are not dependent on external support for vaccine supply but can mobilise their own resources to respond quickly and efficiently to outbreaks.

Jjuko Joseph, a representative from Community Power Voices and a village health team member in Kawempe Division, reported that the outbreak has deeply impacted communities, particularly sex workers who are concealing their symptoms and avoiding treatment. Many of these individuals mistakenly believe they are suffering from measles due to the similar symptoms of the two diseases, which has worsened the situation. Joseph stressed that more community engagement and targeted health messaging are essential to encourage individuals to seek treatment and reduce stigma.

Hope Katete, a nurse at Kitante Wellness Clinic, highlighted another challenge: delays in receiving test results. “We’ve had several cases at our clinic, but there are delays in getting results, which prolongs the treatment process and worsens outcomes,” she said. These delays are a critical issue in Uganda’s response to the outbreak.

Immaculate Owamugisha, Executive Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice Uganda, called for better community engagement to combat stigma and misinformation. She condemned media coverage that stigmatises affected groups, pointing to a headline in one local news outlet that referred to sex workers spreading both “pleasure and disease.” “This kind of messaging is damaging,” Owamugisha argued. “Mpox is a social issue, and we need to address it in a way that doesn’t isolate or shame individuals who are already vulnerable.”

As the outbreak continues to unfold, the need for a more robust and coordinated response remains clear. The CSOs have called on Uganda’s government and regional health authorities to address the pressing challenges, including the availability of vaccines, timely testing, and the eradication of stigma. Efforts to ensure that public health messages are inclusive, non-stigmatising, and accurately communicated are also seen as key to improving response and treatment outcomes. With Uganda ranking as one of the countries with the highest number of cases in Africa, the importance of swift and comprehensive action cannot be overstated.