November 1st, 2024 (Cross Border: Moyale KENYA and Moyale Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) conducted Joint Strategic Risk Assessment for Moyale Point of Entry (POE) between Kenya and Ethiopia cross border at the Moyale cross border (ground crossing) as part of Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project implemented through a Multiphase Programmatic Approach.
The objective of the five day meeting is to undertake a Strategic Risk Assessment of the ground crossing between and Ethiopia with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Point of Entry to prepare, detect and respond to emergencies in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Speaking on behalf of Madam Fathia Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development Division, Dr Waqo Gufu Boru, Senior Medical Epidemiologist for IGAD, highlighted the objective and importance of the cross border Strategic Risk Assessment.
He emphasized the importance of the exercise, which is essentially conducted to identify multi hazard risks and mitigation measures in order to strengthen the capacity of the Moyale Point of Entry to prepare for, detect and respond to health emergencies.
“Diseases have no borders, he said in his remarks calling for the need for strengthening cross border surveillance” Dr. Waqo, said that IGAD has taken deliberate effort in facilitating this meeting which brought together multisectoral stakeholder from diverse sectors from both Kenya and Ethiopia, cutting across the Human Health, Animal and Environmental sector including community leaders and security sectors , And, In order accelerate utilization of the outcome of the exercise, IGAD will support of development of a Public Health Emergency Contingency plan for Moyale – Moyale point of entry.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Malich Boru, County Executive Committee for Health, Marsabit County, as the chief guest and host, welcomed the participants of the meeting emphasizing the importance of cross border collaboration in addressing complex health challenges that transcends border.
“We need to limit the transmission of health threats across borders, and to enable safe population mobility,” he stressed.
Dr. Benardict Mushi, Public Health Specialist, East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community on his part explained the importance of cross border health capacity at points of entry and along the mobility continuum
Moreover, he emphasized that ECSA-HC and IGAD acknowledge the critical importance of Capacity building for every cross border in the region.
The meeting brought together participants from Kenya and Ethiopia, Port Health, , Disease surveillance Unit, HEPRR MPA Project staff and representatives from governments of Ethiopia and Kenya as well as ECSA HC and IGAD Secretariat.
Budget for the meeting financed by World Bank.
Subsequently, Participants of the Strategic Risk Assessment provided strategic Risk Assessment report with details of the identified and prioritized hazards and associated risk for the Point of Entry at Moyale and proposed mitigation measures.
Conducting Strategic Risk Assessment helps countries to fulfill their obligations and promotes international cooperation and coordination in managing public health emergencies as part of requirement by the International Health Regulation (IHR), 2005.
