The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, has announced an additional €20 million of funding towards the fight against the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This funding is a critical contribution toward the implementation of the joint Africa CDC-WHO Mpox Continental Preparation and Response Plan, and forms part of the EU’s objective to support the strengthening of health systems in Africa. 

The additional funding for the DRC complements the 215,000 doses of Mpox vaccines that were donated by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) department to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to address the current crisis across the African continent. 365,000 doses of Mpox vaccine were donated earlier by Team Europe.

Jutta Urpilainen shared: “We are committed to tackle health crises and increase resilience together with the African partners. This is a joint mission to improve global health security. The additional funding of €20 million comes on to previous support and vaccine donations by the EU and its Member States.”

The funding announced today is part of the EU's coordinated response to strengthen preparedness and response capacities for both current and future health emergencies in affected countries, working together with partners such as the WHO. Team Europe is a lead investor in global health initiatives like the Pandemic Fund, which is fast-tracking funds for enhanced laboratory capacity, virus surveillance and detection, and training emergency personnel for vaccinations. The European Union remains committed to strengthening health systems and preparedness and response capacity in Africa, through the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+).

On his part, the Director-General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, emphasised, “Africa CDC sincerely appreciates the generous support of the EU towards the fight against the Mpox outbreak in Africa. Together with the EU and our partners, we are determined to defeat this outbreak. I urge all Member States to act swiftly—mobilize vaccination efforts to protect our citizens and mitigate the devastating effects of this disease."

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