President Cyril Ramaphosa said government must enhance its surveillance systems and strengthen healthcare delivery and infrastructure, noting that African countries need to manufacture Mpox vaccines to reduce costs and improve access.

Rampahosa was speaking virtually during the AU Heads of State virtual meeting on Mpox, where he pointed out that the outbreak of Mpox was a reminder of the fragility of the country’s health systems and the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to disease control in Africa.

“It is a reminder that our collective strength lies in collaboration, innovation and a commitment to safeguarding the health of our communities,” he said.

South Africa has reported 25 cases of Mpox, which includes three deaths, 19 recoveries and three people in isolation at home.

He highlighted that as government tackled Mpox, it needed to learn from its experience during Covid-19, saying it needed to ensure equitable distribution of medical countermeasures based on transparent criteria and readiness to initiate vaccination.

He said as with Covid-19, Africa was still struggling to get the Mpox vaccine and treatment.

Ramaphosa highlighted that African countries must co-develop medical countermeasures, share intellectual property and ensure technology transfer.

“We ask Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to lead the consultation with Member States to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures. We need a finance plan that is evidence-based, with sound forecasting of needs,” he said.

He explained that the Africa CDC’s mandate on data sharing was the bedrock of global health security.

“…this will help to ensure that public health threats are detected and shared across borders and with other continental and global stakeholders. We are only able to effectively mobilise and direct funds if we are supported by reliable data,” he said.

Ramaphosa urged all African countries to make use of this instrumental system that had been created by the institution.

He also called for the urgent operationalisation of the Africa Epidemic Fund as the primary vehicle for epidemic response financial management.

Ramaphosa welcomed the agreement between Africa CDC and Bavarian Nordic to transfer the Mpox vaccine technology to African manufacturers.

“With the financial support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, Afreximbank, the European Union and other partners, we should be able to start vaccine manufacturing by 2025. In the meantime, we appreciate the support from a few countries to get vaccines in Africa,” he said.

He pointed out that the Covid-19 experience taught government that it needed predictable demand and offtake guarantees for the vaccines, medicines and diagnostics manufactured in Africa.

He explained that African countries should therefore buy vaccines and other health products manufactured in Africa to ensure sustainable manufacturing on the continent.

He added that this could be achieved through the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism.

He pointed out that countries must ensure frontline health workers had the necessary diagnostic tools, vaccines and antiviral treatments, and must have tested public health messages, that he said promoted awareness and prevention.

He added that the feasibility of continuing vaccinations in high-risk populations must be explored, noting that this dual approach would help create a buffer against future outbreaks and protect most vulnerable communities.

“We call on those regions that still sit with strategic stockpiles of vaccines to deploy them to Africa as the most affected area. African countries should have adequate regulatory mechanisms, internal distribution, and vaccination capabilities,” he said.