COULD IMPERIALISM EXPLAIN THE SLOW MPOX RESPONSE IN AFRICA?

Since its emergence, mpox has been largely ignored, even as it threatens to become a full-blown crisis in Africa and beyond. Vaccines have been available since 2022, but remain largely inaccessible for much of the continent, with critics arguing a strategy of containing the outbreak in Africa rather than solving the crisis, has been deployed.

The mpox outbreak in Africa has made one thing clear: The continent’s continued dependence on external powers for its health.

Hundreds of thousands of vaccines are being pledged by the West to counter the spread of the virus across Africa.
It’s killed over 600 people and there are currently nearly 23,000 cases.

So, why can’t the continent find its own solutions, instead of relying on others? William Sakawa explains how imperialism, old and new, has played its part.

Colonialism dismantled African health practices, while unethical Western experiments on Africans undermined trust. Even today, IMF reforms enforce austerity that cuts investment in local health systems.

There is a cure, though. Africa needs to break its dependency on foreign powers for the sake of its own wellbeing.

Have a watch and share your thoughts.