WHO and IFRC Partner to Strengthen Public Health Emergency Response in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have joined forces to enhance public health emergency response in Africa, particularly at the community level. Both organizations have a significant presence on the continent, with the WHO operating in 47 countries and the IFRC supporting 49 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

To address the ongoing mpox outbreak, WHO and IFRC are collaborating to support Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in ramping up their response efforts. This collaboration can be extended to other countries affected by mpox or other public health emergencies.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of this partnership in safeguarding health, enhancing emergency preparedness, and building a more resilient Africa. WHO and IFRC have a long history of collaboration on the continent, driven by their commitment to saving lives.

The new collaboration framework aims to improve coordination and alignment in emergency response, enhance capacity-building in national health workforces, strengthen disaster preparedness and risk reduction, increase vaccine access, and promote evidence-based action. It will also streamline preparedness approaches within health ministries and address the health impacts of climate change.

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The IFRC's extensive network of volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, numbering approximately 500,000, plays a crucial role in community-based surveillance, engagement, risk communication, and case management. These volunteers, who are deeply embedded in their communities, generate valuable data on the health status of local populations.

WHO and IFRC are working together to implement effective outbreak responses, combining WHO's technical expertise and national coordination with IFRC's grassroots community mobilization. This partnership ensures that interventions are both scientifically sound and locally relevant.

Epidemiological surveillance conducted in collaboration with IFRC will support the mpox vaccine rollout in the Democratic Republic of Congo, guiding the distribution of vaccines to areas with the highest need. WHO is also providing support to countries experiencing mpox outbreaks through various strategies, including enhanced surveillance, vaccine readiness, contact tracing, training, and combating misinformation.