Edward Majani
Department of Public Health, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Glob Public Health. 2025 Dec;20(1):2551008. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2025.2551008. Epub 2025 Sep 1.
The Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) highlights the critical intersection of conflict, displacement and public health. With over 15,000 reported cases and 700 deaths, the crisis has disproportionately affected internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly women and girls, who face heightened vulnerabilities due to caregiving roles and unsanitary living conditions in overcrowded camps. These conditions, compounded by limited healthcare access, poor sanitation and widespread stigma, have amplified disease transmission. The inadequacies of vaccination campaigns, diagnosis and treatment further exacerbate the situation, underscoring systemic healthcare challenges in conflict zones.This article explores the lessons learned from the Mpox outbreak, emphasising the need to integrate health considerations into humanitarian responses and the importance of addressing stigma and empowering women as community leaders. Key recommendations include improving living conditions in camps, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, combating misinformation, prioritising women and girls in response strategies, and fostering global collaboration for sustainable solutions.
刚果民主共和国的猴痘疫情凸显了冲突、流离失所与公共卫生之间的关键交叉点。报告病例超过1.5万例，死亡700人，这场危机对境内流离失所者产生了尤为严重的影响，特别是妇女和女童，她们因在拥挤营地中承担照料责任和生活条件不卫生而面临更高的脆弱性。这些情况，再加上医疗服务获取有限、卫生条件差和普遍存在的污名化现象，加剧了疾病传播。疫苗接种运动、诊断和治疗方面的不足进一步恶化了局势，凸显了冲突地区系统性的医疗挑战。本文探讨了从猴痘疫情中吸取的教训，强调将健康考量纳入人道主义应对措施的必要性以及消除污名化和赋予妇女社区领袖权力的重要性。主要建议包括改善营地生活条件、加强医疗基础设施、打击错误信息、在应对策略中优先考虑妇女和女童，以及促进全球合作以寻求可持续解决方案。
