Dear Virtual Participants Across the World,

Dear Esteemed Partners – WHO,

Dear Honorable Speakers and Moderator,

Dear Members of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA),

It is my singular honor and great pleasure to welcome you all to today’s important webinar on Mpox: Community Responses and Lessons Learned. This platform brings together voices from across the globe to reflect on our collective experiences in responding to the Mpox outbreak and, most importantly, to learn from the resilience and innovation demonstrated by our communities.

I would like to take a moment to recall that the Society for AIDS in Africa, the organizer of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), was part of the initial global response to the outbreak of the Monkeypox virus. In fact, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in 2022, SAA, in partnership with WHO, organized one of the very first webinars on Mpox on 15th September 2022. This timely response was essential in raising awareness and catalyzing action at a critical time.

It is important that we take stock of the lessons learned over the past years in fighting Mpox and, in particular, draw insights from the community-led response to HIV/AIDS. The collective efforts in addressing HIV have shown us the power of community engagement, education, and empowerment, and it is through such community-driven approaches that we can effectively combat Mpox and other emerging infectious diseases in our region.

As Africa continues to be the region with the highest number of Mpox cases, it is critical that all African states strengthen their public health systems, especially in rural and remote areas where healthcare infrastructure remains a significant challenge. The capacity to respond effectively to Mpox will depend on robust surveillance systems, timely interventions, and the availability of resources to ensure that no community is left behind.

Given that the virus is primarily zoonotic, it is essential that we empower our community health workers through the concept of task shifting. This approach will allow them to play a central role in surveillance, education, and vaccine distribution—three key pillars in preventing further outbreaks of Mpox.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to the outgoing WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, whose tireless commitment to strengthening health systems in Africa has been a beacon of hope in the face of numerous public health challenges. Dr. Moeti’s leadership has made a lasting impact, and we are profoundly grateful for her work in ensuring that our governments and health systems are better equipped to overcome emerging viral threats like Mpox.

As we bid farewell to Dr. Moeti, we also welcome the newly appointed WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile. We look forward to continued collaboration with him to further strengthen our health systems and accelerate progress in tackling health challenges across the continent.

Finally, I would like to thank all the panelists and participants for your valuable time and commitment to this important dialogue. Your insights, expertise, and experiences are vital in shaping the path forward in our fight against Mpox and in enhancing the resilience of our communities.

Enjoy the session and thank you once again for your participation.

Dr. David Parirenyatwa
ICASA 2025 President
SAA President