Aalarm bells should denounce the growing mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where community organizations best positioned to prevent a broader outbreak or pandemic report a lack of funding and a shortage of basic supplies. It was not until early October that limited quantities of vaccines reached some affected communities. But health care and other frontline workers remain unprotected and under-resourced.

It’s as if the world hadn’t just experienced a major pandemic, during which we painfully learned that faster, more robust investment in early action and preventative measures could have slowed transmission and saved lives. countless lives.

In August, the World Health Organization declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern”. To date, there have been more than 100,000 documented cases in 123 countries. The numbers are likely higher due to limited access to testing and healthcare for those affected. In response, in September, the White House announcement a $500 million commitment to support African countries’ efforts to respond and contain the disease.

As cases continue to pile up, the human and financial costs rise. For example, in August, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that $245 million was necessary to respond to the epidemic. A few months later, the amount needed is likely much higher. And if the consequences of past humanitarian disasters have taught us anything, sending all funds to a single central actor would be a grave mistake.

For decades, the humanitarian and development sectors in the United States and around the world have faced bottlenecks, delays, and misappropriation of funds. Generally, only one small percentage funds donated to international NGOs arrive on the ground.

Although financial resources must always be used to maximize impact, this is urgent in crises where resources are lacking such as those of mpox. Humanity cannot afford to continue business as usual when donor money is underutilized, especially when we have an urgent opportunity to save lives. There is an urgent need for more direct donations to locally led organizations to ensure funds reach the front lines as quickly as possible.

Humanity cannot afford to continue business as usual when donor money is underutilized, especially when we have an urgent opportunity to save lives.

Our nonprofit organization, Disaster Accountability Project, created SmartResponse.orga global clearinghouse and network of locally led social and environmental service organizations that prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The website makes it easier for donors to identify and directly support groups on the ground, especially at the beginning or after a disaster. The model is unique because we help establish direct connections between donors and organizations rather than another giving platform or offshore intermediary.

Many members of our network of DRC-based organizations, who have already responded to Ebola and Covid-19, are now reporting a lack of funds and basic supplies. These local public health professionals on the ground are the first line of defense, but they lack the resources, such as personal protective equipment and medications, needed to stop the spread of an outbreak that could potentially turn into another pandemic.

Many organizations reported that quarantine centers did not receive food, forcing infected people to leave and return to their families, increasing the risk of spread.

Consider this: the cost of feeding infected populations is significantly lower if a locally run NGO directly receives funding to do so. If funds are first sent to an outside intermediary – usually an international organization – costs increase and delays are inevitable, because that organization usually takes a percentage and provides a grant to another international organization or subcontracts to a group local. Delays cause additional spread.

Jean Mudekereza Kahunga, program director of the Association of Women for the Promotion and Endogenous Development, or AFPDEa women’s rights and welfare organization based in the DRC, which has doctors and nurses on site, wrote to us by email: “Given the high number of confirmed cases of mpox here at home, the South Kivu province is considered the global epicenter of the mpox epidemic. . Faced with the influx of cases of mpox in the health zones that we support and faced with the frequent movements of populations in our region, we find ourselves unable to provide a service to communities to stop the spread and take care of the sick because of the limited means at our disposal.

The AFPDE also specifically listed the needs for medicines, funds to pay service providers, food for those in quarantine, personal protective equipment, chlorine, specialized bins for medical waste, liquid soaps, powder and soap bars, containers, aprons, tests and other laboratory supplies. , and more.

Imani Gubandja Nkmere Honoré, coordinator of Actions for Justice, Peace and Development, based in the DRC, or AJPD-DRCtold us via email that his human rights organization needs transportation funds to reach remote communities, communication and coordination support, generic medicines, PPE, and more Again. Furthermore, in order to “fight against the prejudices and stereotypes propagated by rural populations” about mpox, his organization deploys a team of clinical psychologists directly in communities to support people infected with mpox as well as their families.

Global efforts to directly fund local organizations are not moving fast enough to prevent a public health disaster from continuing to spiral out of control.

Imani mentioned that her organization also focuses on assisting people displaced by war and affected by disease, another complexity best addressed by local human rights organizations already serving displaced and traumatized populations.

Meanwhile, global efforts to directly fund local organizations are not moving fast enough to prevent a public health disaster from continuing to spiral out of control. In September, the United States Agency for International Development released a new policy on locally driven humanitarian assistance, setting a goal that at least 25 percent of USAID humanitarian and development funds should reach local actors in the country. While this news is welcome, it conversely means that 75 percent of funds intended for humanitarian and development outcomes may not reach local organizations and actors.

In an email, Jonas Habimana, executive director of the Office of Information, Training, Exchange and Research for Development based in the DRC, or BIFERDsaid it very well: “We have integrated Mpox into existing interventions and do not have specific funds allocated to Mpox”, adding that “local civil society must be actively involved in the response”, but has limited resources.

Note: All interviews have been translated from French.

This article was originally published on In the dark. Read the original article.