Jan 22, 2025 Story by: Editor
DAKAR, (Reuters) — Africa’s leading public health agency is urging the incoming administration of the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to uphold the funding and vaccine commitments pledged by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
In September, President Joe Biden committed $500 million and one million vaccine doses as part of a comprehensive mpox response plan spearheaded by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The initiative is aimed at tackling the ongoing mpox outbreak across the continent.
Despite the critical need, Africa CDC has noted slow progress in turning donor pledges into tangible support, such as financial aid and vaccine supplies, to bolster the response effort.
When asked about the potential impact of Trump’s presidency on U.S. support for African healthcare, Africa CDC Director John Kaseya emphasized the importance of continued dialogue with the new administration to ensure commitments are met.
“As we start to discuss with some of the officials … we’ll continue to talk to them and to engage them to fulfil their commitment,” Kaseya told reporters. He warned that failure to honor these promises could deepen the mistrust between Africa and the United States.
“If they don’t do that, the mistrust that we have today in Africa will lead to a major issue between the U.S. and the continent,” Kaseya added.
The urgency is further underscored by Trump’s recent declaration that anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would play a significant role in shaping U.S. healthcare policy. Kennedy, who has faced criticism for spreading misinformation, including unproven claims linking vaccines to autism, said Trump had promised him oversight of key health agencies, including the FDA, CDC, HHS, and USDA.
Expressing his willingness to engage with the incoming administration, Kaseya said, “I’m available to fly and to meet and discuss with them about what Africa needs in the health area and how we can work together.”
The Africa CDC continues to press for urgent action as mpox cases rise and the continent grapples with limited resources to address the outbreak effectively. Source: Reuters
