November 23, 2024 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) successfully convened the Second Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting for the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience (HEPRR) Project in Eastern and Southern Africa under the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA).
The RAC aims to foster regional collaboration among participating countries, regional organisations, and technical experts to facilitate the implementation of activities under the MPA.
Speaking on behalf of H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, Madam Fathia Alwan, Director of the Health and Social Development Division, underscored the significance of the HEPRR programme in addressing health emergencies. She highlighted the initiative’s focus on learning from COVID-19 and other regional outbreaks, such as cholera, Ebola, and Mpox.
Madam Fathia noted that the Pandemic Secretariat has allocated funds for the Mpox outbreak in alignment with declarations from the African CDC and WHO. She further elaborated on IGAD’s extensive efforts to strengthen cross-border health preparedness and enhance the resilience of border communities to outbreaks.
“IGAD is leveraging its cross-sectoral experience, and since the launch of the MPA in May 2024, we have achieved notable milestones,” she said. She also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its consistent support in funding the programme.
Key Highlights of the Event
- The initiative aligns with the World Health Organisation’s global health security agenda and is a priority for the African Union and its Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
- The meeting included comprehensive updates on progress since the first RAC meeting, including achievements in harmonising HEPRR activities with global frameworks like the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the AMR Political Declaration.
- The discussions focused on strengthening regional coordination, multi-sectoral collaboration, and cross-border preparedness mechanisms.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including:
- The World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia and World Bank experts.
- The Ethiopian Minister of Health.
- The Acting Director General of ECSA-HC.
- Representatives from the African Union, United Nations, Africa CDC, and IGAD Secretariat.
The meeting concluded with strategic recommendations to enhance coordination, accountability, and oversight for the HEPRR programme. It also identified opportunities for scaling up preparedness measures in response to health emergencies across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The RAC continues to act as a vital advisory body for the HEPRR programme, ensuring technical oversight and alignment with international health frameworks.
The Eastern and Southern Africa region remains a hotspot for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The HEPRR programme, coordinated by IGAD and ECSA-HC, seeks to address these challenges by bolstering regional capacity and resilience through multi-sectoral collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
The meeting was financed by the World Bank under the MPA framework, demonstrating a shared commitment to enhancing health security in the region.
