August 19, 2026 (Bujumbura, Burundi): The IGAD Secretariat, under the World Bank-funded Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project (HEPRRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa, convened a three-day national advocacy and consultation meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, from August 17–19 2026.
The meeting brought together national policymakers, technical experts and regional and international partners to review the proposed Multi-Country Cross-Border Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on preparedness and response to Mpox and other public health emergencies.
Led by Burundi’s Ministry of Health, the meeting convened key institutions across public health, surveillance, animal health, environment, security, trade and border management, alongside IGAD, WHO-AFRO, Africa CDC, ECSA-HC and IOM, reinforcing a coordinated, multisectoral approach to cross-border health security.
Opening the meeting, Burundi’s Minister of Health, Dr. Fidèle Nkezabahizi, highlighted the growing health security risks linked to population mobility, climate change and cross-border movement, particularly in border areas shaped by trade, pastoralism and migration.
“No country can be safe until all others are safe,” he said, stressing the importance of rapid diagnosis, timely sample collection, real-time information sharing and swift, coordinated action during health emergencies. He called on participants to approach the consultations with rigour and innovation, noting that their recommendations would help refine the strategic instrument ahead of its planned ministerial validation.
“The Government of Burundi reiterates its determination to strengthen the local health system and cross-border health security, for optimal protection of our fellow citizens and the populations of the sub-region,” Dr. Nkezabahizi said.
From consultation to action
The meeting builds on decisive steps taken during the high-level consultation of Permanent Secretaries held in Brazzaville in May 2026, providing an opportunity to translate regional commitments into national action.
One of the key outcomes was progress towards national consensus on the proposed Multi-Country Cross-Border MoU, with national experts reviewing the draft and providing technical inputs to support its finalisation. Participants also developed a draft roadmap for its operationalisation, focusing on cross-border surveillance, real-time information sharing, joint preparedness and response, coordination at Points of Entry and referral mechanisms.
The consultations identified gaps in surveillance interoperability, joint preparedness planning, rapid response, surge workforce deployment, logistics and financing. Participants further agreed on the need to revise Burundi’s Essential Health Service Package, in line with WHO recommendations, to ensure continuity of critical services during and after emergencies.
Representing the Director of IGAD’s Health and Social Development Division, IGAD Senior Epidemiologist Dr. Waqo Boru said the MoU would provide a common framework for countries to prepare together, share information rapidly and coordinate responses to public health threats across borders. He stressed that its success would depend on its effective implementation during public health emergencies.
The meeting also underscored the importance of ensuring access to essential health services for border communities, migrants, refugees, displaced populations and other vulnerable groups.
The outcomes mark an important step towards ministerial endorsement and signature of the MoU, while strengthening the region’s collective capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to cross-border health emergencies.
