UK Allocates £3.1 Million to Combat Mpox and Cholera in DRC

The UK announced a £3.1 million fund to aid the DRC in tackling Mpox and cholera outbreaks. The funding, part of a partnership with UNICEF, aims to support over 4.4 million affected individuals. The initiative seeks to prevent the spread of Mpox to neighboring regions and improve health security.

The UK announced new funding of £3.1 million on Wednesday to collaborate with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in enhancing the regional African response to Mpox and cholera outbreaks. The aid follows the WHO's declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.

During a visit to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the DRC, minister Lord Ray Collins revealed the funding in a new partnership with UNICEF, which aims to benefit over 4.4 million people. Collins emphasized the UK’s commitment to global health security.

This year, Africa has seen over 17,000 Mpox cases and 571 deaths. The initiative, alongside a £6 million fund for clean water and sanitation, aims to save lives and reduce disease spread, aligning with DRC's national Mpox response plan.