The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in Africa. African public health systems have moved to mobilize a response against a backdrop of inherent significant challenges. With this commentary, we discuss how lessons from past public health emergencies, particularly COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks, have prepared the region for improved disease surveillance, rapid response strategies, and effective public health communication and how these lessons can be applied to the mpox response, emphasizing the importance of strong healthcare infrastructure, effective data sharing, community engagement, targeted interventions, and robust contact tracing. Additionally, addressing misinformation and building public trust are crucial for controlling the spread of any disease. By leveraging these strategies, African countries can enhance their response to mpox. This includes improving diagnostic capabilities, strengthening cross-border collaborations, and prioritizing vaccination campaigns where needed. Ultimately, by applying the hard-earned lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreak, the East Africa region can better address the challenges posed by mpox and safeguard public health.

Background: Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI ART) presents a new approach to HIV treatment and addressing the challenges of daily oral ART in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains paramount. This review collates existing literature on barriers and strategies for implementing LAI ART in the SSA region, identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities. Methods: We performed a thorough literature search, encompassing electronic databases and grey literature sources. Our review included 18 studies published between 2014 and 2023, focusing on the acceptability, feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of LAI ART in SSA. Data extraction involved study characteristics, population, intervention, outcomes, and context, with findings synthesized using a narrative approach. Results: The results indicate high demand and acceptability of LAI ART among people living with HIV in SSA, particularly those facing stigma and discrimination. LAI ART can improve adherence, retention, and viral suppression while reducing pill burden and frequent clinic visits. Implementation challenges include lack of regulatory approval, high cost, limited supply chain, health system capacity, trained staff, and cold storage facilities. Further evidence on safety and efficacy, advocacy, policy, and community engagement are needed to ensure accessibility and equity. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps and research priorities include dosing regimens, long-term outcomes, drug resistance, impact on sexual and reproductive health, interactions with other medications and co-infections, and preferences and experiences of different subgroups.