The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued an urgent plea for $59 million to halt the alarming spread of mpox in six African nations, with Burundi being particularly hard-hit. Children are facing severe health risks, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
According to UNICEF’s Regional Health Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr. Paul Ngwakum, children in Burundi are disproportionately affected by the outbreak.
“Of the nearly 600 reported cases, two-thirds are children under 19 years old,” he said, emphasizing that the number of cases has surged by more than 40% in the past three weeks. He stressed the urgency of intervention, stating, “Children in Burundi are bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak with alarming rates of infection and health impacts.”
While Burundi has reported over 14,000 suspected cases of mpox, no deaths have been confirmed. However, in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the situation is far more dire, with nearly 21,900 suspected cases and 717 deaths.
Dr. Ngwakum believes swift action in Burundi can make a significant difference. “With funding and prompt action, we have an opportunity to end this outbreak in a very short time period because the geographical area is kind of limited,” he explained. He expressed hope that, with a concerted effort, the virus could be contained before lives are lost.
Efforts to Make Classrooms Safe
In light of the ongoing crisis, UNICEF is particularly concerned about the potential spread of mpox among young children in schools, especially those under five, who account for 30% of cases.
To combat this, the organization has partnered with local education authorities in Burundi to roll out health measures in schools. This includes training teachers to recognize early symptoms, improving hygiene standards, and providing resources to help minimize disruption.
The UN agency is focused on ensuring that classrooms remain safe environments for learning, even as the outbreak spreads. “Make no mistake, we don’t have all the answers. No one does,” said Dr. Ngwakum.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation, with a new infectious strain, and we are learning more every day about different modes of transmission.”
Dr. Paul Ngwakum
Stigma and Community Concerns
A key challenge in the fight against mpox is addressing the stigma surrounding the disease, particularly due to its perceived association with sexual transmission. “Sex in Africa is not something that is spoken of on a daily basis,” explained Dr. Ngwakum.
He emphasized that mpox is primarily spread through body-to-body contact, interaction with animals, or contact with contaminated materials, rather than through human-to-human sexual transmission. Yet, the fear of being associated with a sexually transmitted disease persists, leading to harmful stigma in affected communities.
Beyond this, communities remain fearful of potential repeats of past health crises such as Ebola or COVID-19. Dr. Ngwakum noted that dispelling myths and calming fears is critical to preventing panic and ensuring cooperation in the response to the outbreak.
UNICEF’s appeal includes provisions for mental health support, aimed at helping parents and frontline workers cope with the emotional strain of the outbreak.
Many frontline workers have faced hostility in communities wary of another infectious disease, while parents are dealing with the psychological toll of the outbreak on their children.
Dr. Margaret Harris from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the stark contrast between Burundi and the DRC in terms of mpox-related deaths. She pointed to the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC as a factor behind the high number of deaths.
“Many of the children whom we’ve seen horribly, sadly die in the Democratic Republic of Congo were very immuno-suppressed through being severely malnourished,” she explained, noting that many were also affected by conflict and other diseases.
As UNICEF continues its efforts to curb the spread of mpox, it remains clear that a collaborative, well-funded response is essential to stopping the outbreak in its tracks.
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