In the fight against human-to-human transmission of Mpox, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced a global plan known as Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP).
As announced by WHO in a statement on Monday, the plan is set to operate from September 2024 to February 2025, with a funding requirement of 135 million U.S. dollars.
The SPRP aims to coordinate efforts at the global, regional, and national levels, improve surveillance and response strategies, ensure fair access to diagnostics and vaccines, diminish animal-to-human transmission, and empower communities in managing outbreaks.
WHO’s unveiling of the plan follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, on August 14.
A funding appeal will soon be initiated by WHO to meet the requirements of the plan.
Focusing on comprehensive surveillance, prevention, and readiness, the plan builds on the temporary and standing recommendations issued by Ghebreyesus.
Efforts for strategic vaccination will be concentrated on high-risk individuals, such as recent case contacts and healthcare professionals, to break the transmission chains.
At the global level, WHO is prioritizing strategic leadership, evidence-based guidance, and medical countermeasure access for the most vulnerable groups in affected countries.
WHO is partnering with various international, regional, national, and local organizations to enhance coordination in preparedness, readiness, and response, including engagements with the ACT-Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response, the R and D Blueprint for Epidemics, and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net).