UNICEF appeals for US $58.8 million to address mpox crisis as cases among children rise
September 16, 2024
UNICEF has launched a US$58.8 million appeal to address the escalating mpox crisis across six African countries, where children are most affected. Nearly 22,000 cases have been reported this year, with 60% in children under 15. Approximately 80% of over 700 deaths are among children. The appeal targets Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Central African Republic, where the clade 1 variant is spreading. Children's vulnerability is exacerbated by limited healthcare access, poor sanitation, malnutrition, and displacement. UNICEF's response focuses on breaking transmission, preventing secondary harm, and supporting preparedness efforts.
UNICEF has launched an urgent appeal for US$58.8 million to combat the escalating mpox crisis across six African countries where children are disproportionately affected. This initiative comes in response to alarming data that underscores the vulnerability of children to this outbreak.
The scale of the crisis is significant, with nearly 22,000 suspected and confirmed cases of mpox reported so far this year. Alarmingly, 60 percent of these cases are in children under 15 years old. Even more concerning is that approximately 80 percent of the more than 700 mpox-related deaths are among children, particularly those in underserved communities.
While child deaths are currently confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNICEF is working to scale up prevention and response efforts across the region. The appeal aims to reach children affected by the outbreak in six countries: Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Central African Republic. In these nations, the clade 1 variant of mpox is on the rise, putting thousands of children at risk of infection, secondary complications, and social stigma.
The high infection rates and mortality in affected countries, particularly in the DRC, highlight the vulnerabilities of children in these regions. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated by limited access to healthcare, poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, malnutrition, other common childhood diseases, and displacement due to various factors.
UNICEF's response to the mpox outbreak is comprehensive, focusing on an integrated approach to:
1. Break active transmission of the disease
2. Prevent secondary harm to children
3. Support preparedness efforts
This multifaceted strategy aims to not only address the immediate health crisis but also to mitigate the broader impacts on children's well-being and development. By targeting both the medical and social aspects of the outbreak, UNICEF seeks to provide a holistic response to protect the most vulnerable populations in these affected African countries.