AIDS society in Africa calls for free Mpox vaccine access across continent
The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) has issued an urgent plea for global support in response to the escalating monkeypox outbreak, calling for free access to vaccines across Africa as the virus spreads rapidly across the continent.
The SAA, known for organizing the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), threw its full weight behind the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) after both organizations declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency.
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Stressing the gravity of the situation, the SAA called for an immediate increase in surveillance, infection prevention, and control measures.
The organization emphasized the need for enhanced laboratory capacities and urged for the mobilization of resources to support diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination efforts.
Central to the SAA's call is the demand for global solidarity in the fight against monkeypox. The organization appealed to international partners and donors for financial and technical assistance, underscoring the need for urgent, free access to vaccines in African countries most at risk.
The SAA also highlighted the importance of community engagement and public education campaigns to combat misinformation and stigma surrounding the virus.
Vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV and those with large sexual networks, were singled out as needing priority attention during this critical time.
This comes ahead of the ICASA 2025 conference and the SAA vowed to ensure that monkeypox and its far-reaching implications will be a central topic of discussion, aiming to inspire collaboration and innovation in addressing this and other emerging public health challenges.
