In response to the escalating mpox outbreak in Africa, Direct Relief announced today that the organization would commit funds to support prevention efforts as well as provide an infusion of personal protective equipment, or PPE, with the goal of protecting health workers.
Direct Relief is awarding a grant of $50,000 to the nonprofit Jericho Road for mpox response, which will be used to fund prevention and treatment programs in the three IDP (internally displaced people) camps near their facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC. Jericho Road plans to operate and equip health checkup stations, temporary isolation units for mpox patients that are awaiting hospital transfer and hold mpox awareness and preventative health training.
The commitment comes as Direct Relief continues to coordinate vaccine delivery to countries most impacted by the mpox outbreak. On Sept. 12, officials from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases had been recorded over the preceding seven days.
“We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with Direct Relief. It is our mission to bring quality healthcare to our most vulnerable neighbors. We are committed to that effort, especially in this moment,” said Chantal Mandro, Clinic Director for Jericho Road’s Wellness Clinic in Goma, DRC. “The most recent financial support from Direct Relief will allow us to further support the folks living in the camps near our clinic and to keep our staff and their families safe, as we do so. At Jericho Road we strive to love our neighbor, as best we can.”
Direct Relief has worked with Jericho Road during previous outbreaks, including during the 2019 Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC. Direct Relief and Jericho Road worked to deliver PPE to the North Kivu provincial Department of Health, and the organizations are exploring the same approach as North Kivu is experiencing some of the highest rates of mpox in Africa.
The Jericho Road Wellness Center is based in Goma, DRC, near three large IDP camps in North Kivu, and the spread of mpox in these camps was noted as an area of concern by Africa CDC. The province of North Kivu is home to over 2.5 million internally displaced people, and conflict and insecurity throughout the region have caused the additional displacement of over 500,000 people in North Kivu over the last year, which has played a factor in the recent mpox outbreak.
“Direct Relief is honored to support Jericho Road’s Wellness Center, where staff are deeply committed to providing care to the community each day, and now are stepping up even more to help patients impacted by this outbreak,” said Jeffrey Samuel, Direct Relief’s Regional Director for Africa. “Protecting and equipping health workers is a top priority, and these funds and medical support will help staff deliver care at a time when it is urgently needed.”
Jericho Road’s Wellness Center receives an average of 200 patients per month from the camps, and through their relationship with the regional ministry of health, has access to the camps and the Provincial Hospital, which is the main referral center for mpox patients in Goma.
In addition to funds, Direct Relief is assembling comprehensive kits for medical providers and patients affected by mpox. Each kit includes personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns, N-95 masks, goggles, and shoe covers to protect 100 healthcare workers. The kits also contain medications for pain management and skin irritation, wound care supplies, and disinfectant wipes for up to 1,000 patients.
