Submission ID 116979
| Issue/Objective | The emergence and rapid spread of mpox in 2022 in North America and Europe was yet another reminder of the borderless nature of global public health challenges. It also pointed to the need of addressing such public health threats for learning from the global South, strengthening capacity in the global South, and in general supporting collaborative research efforts across the global South and North. |
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| Methodology/Approach | The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and other Canadian funding agencies were quick to respond to the emerging threat of mpox by allocating funds to foster collaborative teams mainly from Canada and Nigeria. The objective was to explore the epidemiology of mpox, understand the effectiveness of the medical countermeasures, and assess the uptake of vaccines. The Nigerian team consisted of research organizations that collaborated using mixed methods approaches and capacity strengthening efforts using OneHealth approach through three main research components including laboratory, community, and animal. |
| Results | Preliminary results indicate that while the epidemic in Europe and North America has been seuxal and gender minority populations (SGM)-centric, such is not the case in Nigeria where that the spread has been more in the general population. Another result was the difference in willingness, knowledge, and readinesss for vaccine uptake among SGM populations compared to the general population, more in the SGM. Other capacity/collobration results indicate that the research benefited from strengthening of capacity in specific research methodolgies between the Canadian and Nigerian teams, such as using mathematical modelling towards estimating prevalance. Addional benefits were obtained through the teams working together to modify specific tests such as ELISA for use in animal testing. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The need to respond to global health security threats in an ongoing manner and across borders strengthens capacities both ways between global South and North, identifies any potential differences in the nature and spread of epidemic threats, and potentially targets specifically different affected population sub-groups for effective public health responses. In order for such to occur, funders have the vantage point of facilitating these global health research collaborations such that effective public health responses can then be achieved to address global public health security challenges. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Qamar Mahmood International Development Research Centre Qamar Mahmood International Development Research Centre |
