WHO ensures continuity of EHS in African Mpox outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) is helping African countries with active transmission of Mpox to balance the response to the epidemic with maintaining essential health services (EHS), such as vaccinations, maternal care, HIV treatment and chronic disease management. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO underlines the importance of continuity of service in response plans to Mpox. The central pillar of WHO’s efforts is ‘continuity of essential health services’, which provides technical guidance for developing adaptive plans and monitoring service delivery using indicators to address disruptions. WHO has published guidelines for governments, focusing on training health workers, supporting the delivery of health care and promoting community participation in risk monitoring and communication. By integrating service continuity into national response strategies and real-time monitoring, the WHO helps countries maintain access to health care during crises. This proactive approach strengthens health systems, aligns with universal health coverage goals and ensures resilience for future emergencies.