Insight and opinion from The National’s editorial leadership
September 03, 2024
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Health Minister, Samuel-Roger Kamba, was cautiously optimistic on August 19, when he told his fellow citizens they could expect a much-needed shipment of vaccines against the mpox virus to arrive the following week. But a fortnight later, not a single shot has landed in the DRC.
The reason is not a lack of urgency on the part of Dr Kamba and his government – a novel strain of the virus, known as Clade 1b, has ravaged the country all year. Nor is it a lack of supplies – mpox vaccines exist and have already been used to quell previous outbreaks in rich countries.
Instead, the problem appears to be a combination of bureaucracy and indifference. The DRC has been waiting for the World Health Organisation either to approve the available vaccines or issue an emergency licence that would enable use without such approval. One of these is necessary for organisations like Unicef and Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, to buy and distribute immunisations in developing countries.
Mpox has plagued the world since the 1970s. The last global outbreak began just as the Covid-19 pandemic was receding. Since then, strains of the virus have reached at least 119 countries.
But the DRC has been hit especially hard. Mpox is considered endemic there. Clade 1b has infected at least 15,000 Congolese this year, and killed at least 550. Most of the dead are children, including some who succumbed not to the virus itself, but to starvation because of painful lesions in their mouths and throats preventing them from eating.
Authorities in Kinshasa first requested vaccines from the World Health Organisation and the international community two years ago, when US and EU regulators approved a vaccine developed by Danish company Bavarian Nordic and marketed under the name Jynneos to prevent the spread of mpox among their populations.
Kinshasa first requested vaccines from the World Health Organisation and the international community 2 years ago
Nonetheless, poorer nations like the DRC rely on approval from the WHO – not the US Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. Bavarian Nordic submitted its research to the WHO in May of last year, but the WHO only began the process of formally considering that research in mid-August, when it declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” following Clade 1b’s spread to the DRC’s neighbours.
Part of the reason for the delay is the WHO’s onerous expectations for research data. The FDA and EMA set a relatively low bar for approval – Jynneos was given the green light without human trials – because of the fears around mpox at the time. The WHO has been far more cautious – too cautious, critics say.
Some experts, however, say the hesitation is warranted. No one knows how effective Jynneos and other vaccine candidates would be against the Clade 1b variant; the outbreaks in the West dealt with a different strain. Data released last month by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was not promising.
But a lack of attention and funding has been a major issue, too. The urgency that enabled 1.2 million Jynneos doses to be distributed in the US during the last outbreak quickly waned when the virus receded to Africa. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says that of the $245 million it has requested to fight mpox, only 10 per cent has been funded.
Under growing pressure, the WHO has eased its rules to allow partners to purchase vaccines in advance of any approval. As a result, the organisation said on Friday that a shipment of 230,000 mpox vaccines will arrive in the DRC sometime this week, donated by the European Commission and Bavarian Nordic. But that is just a first step; the road from securing a quarter of a million vaccines to getting millions more delivered in the field is very long. Mpox is a relatively slow-spreading virus, but so far it is outpacing our will to fight it.
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
