The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has made significant strides in combating the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding regions. However, with only 2% of the $27.8 million funding request met, critical measures to protect vulnerable populations are at risk.

Detailed Report:

The IOM is intensifying efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to the Mpox outbreak in the DRC and its neighboring countries. The organization is focusing on key points of entry (PoEs) and areas with high mobility to mitigate the spread of this viral disease. Despite these efforts, funding remains severely lacking, with only $681,000 received from the total requested amount.

Key Achievements During the Reporting Period:

1. Coordination Leadership: The IOM has taken a lead role in the PoE and Cross Border Coordination sub-pillar as part of the Mpox Continental Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa. This included organizing meetings for the PoE Technical Working Group to strategize response methods.

2. Support to PoEs: Over 60 PoEs and cross-border areas across several countries – including Burundi, DRC, Kenya, and Uganda – received vital support to build capacities for disease surveillance and response.

3. Population Mobility Mapping: The IOM executed mapping exercises in DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda to analyze population movement patterns, aiding in prioritizing areas for public health preparedness.

4. Community Engagement: Community health workers (CHWs) in 24 districts across DRC, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zimbabwe established a robust community event-based surveillance system, resulting in over 40 alerts in Uganda alone.

5. Health Screenings: The organization conducted more than 7,800 health screenings in Guinea and Uganda, contributing to a cumulative total of over 1,064,300 screenings across all targeted countries.

6. Training Initiatives: IOM trained over 1,000 government officials across multiple nations on disease outbreak responses, bringing the total number of trained personnel to over 3,900.

7. Awareness Campaigns: The organization successfully reached over 24,680 people with Mpox awareness messages in regions such as DRC and Mozambique, encouraging preventative behaviors.

8. Procurement of Supplies: Medical supplies worth nearly $20,600 were acquired in Burundi, focusing on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Critical Need for Funding:

The situation remains precarious as the IOM has released a Global Crisis Response Plan for 2025, requesting an additional $46 million to maintain its crucial operations and expand its reach to 3.8 million individuals, including migrants and internally displaced persons. Without significant funds, the ongoing support to manage and monitor Mpox cases, alongside preparations for other outbreaks like Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) and Cholera, may falter.

The Road Ahead:

As IOM collaborates with various stakeholders, including Africa CDC, WHO, and UNHCR, the escalation of these disease outbreaks presents a dire need for collective action and financial backing. The time to act is now—failure to secure adequate funding could jeopardize the safety and health of millions in the region.

Stay informed, as the global response to this outbreak depends significantly on the support of international partners, local health systems, and the passionate determination to keep vulnerable populations safe from this mounting health crisis.