On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization reported monkeypox cases in over 75 countries and, as a result, declared the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Despite Africa being the centre of the zoonotic disease evolution, its healthcare systems have not provided optimum attention to the problem. The African healthcare system is under the threat of a repeat of the situation that transpired during the COVID-19 pandemonium if stringent measures are not implemented immediately. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic should inform emergency preparedness and response from African countries. Concerted and sustainable efforts can be achieved by reviewing and redesigning strategic preparedness plans for testing and vaccination as in previous pandemics. Africa needs to drive this response with collaboration and a united response, and with the use of strategic communication and a sense of urgency. Africa should prioritise access to available vaccines and invest in systems development for local vaccine production. In this article, we argue that monkeypox virus has serious public health implications in Africa and the region.

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The year 2022 saw COVID‐19 as the primary public health concern, with vaccine rollout and mandates at the forefront. Other viral infectious diseases, such as Monkeypox and Ebola, emerged as public health concerns. Climate change and political conflicts significantly impacted global health, increasing the demand for humanitarian assistance and protection. In 2023, it remains crucial to identify global and public health priority areas to coordinate and implement effective solutions. Through discussions with public health practitioners and researchers, we have identified key priority areas for 2023, namely, health systems, the mental health crisis, substance abuse, infectious diseases, malnutrition and food insecurity, sexual and reproductive health challenges, environmental pollution, the climate crisis, cancer, and diabetes. These priority areas highlight shared concerns that should be addressed to facilitate proactive and innovative health interventions and practices. To achieve universal healthcare targets for 2030, prioritization, financial investment, international cooperation, and collaboration in addressing these global health challenges are crucial. This requires coordination among public health decision‐makers, the private health sector, and opinion leaders to implement country‐specific healthcare financing and food security measures. Research, scientific knowledge, and technical capacities must be leveraged to produce sustainable interventions that effectively reduce health disparities and improve health system responsiveness to prevent these challenges from progressing to public health emergencies.

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