April 14, 2025 (ENTEBBE, Uganda): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Regional Preparedness for Pandemic Response (PREPARE) Project, initiated a regional training this week in partnership with the Ministries of Health, Environment, Livestock and Wildlife from Member States to bolster the operational readiness of Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) throughout the region.
The PREPARE project is spearheaded by the IGAD Centre of Excellence on Nutrition (ICEN) in collaboration with the IGAD Agriculture and Environment Division and specialized IGAD institutions, namely: IGAD Centre of Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTV), IGAD Climate Adaptation and Environment Protection (IGAD CAEP) and IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC).
This intensive training aims to enhance the capacity of senior technical frontline officers from IGAD Member States by providing them with the practical tools and skills essential for preparedness, response, and recovery operations during public health emergencies (PHEs).
The program focuses on core components of PHEOCs and examines critical strategies for managing emergencies in both subnational and cross-border contexts. A pivotal aspect of the training includes a tabletop simulation exercise designed to assess existing capabilities, identify gaps, and reinforce emergency systems, procedures, and inter-agency mechanisms for effective responses to outbreaks and other public health threats.
Remarks from IGAD and Key Partners
Speaking on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, IGAD’s Head of Mission to Uganda, highlighted the significance of collaboration and regional solidarity in pandemic preparedness.
“Effective pandemic and epidemic responses depend significantly on the preparedness of a well-coordinated workforce. Under IGAD’s mandate to enhance quality of life and life expectancy, building this capacity remains a top priority,” Ms. Bigirwa stated.
Representing the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Ms. Hanna Mekonnen, the Community Health Coordinator for Africa, stressed the necessity of inter-country, inter-agency, and community-level coordination in advancing resilient health systems within a One Health framework.
Voice from Uganda’s Ministry of Health
Dr. Allan Muruta, the Commissioner for Integrated Epidemiology and Public Health Emergency, recognized the region’s susceptibility to recurring health crises, including Ebola, Mpox, Marburg, cholera, and climate-related disasters.
“This training is timely and essential. The effectiveness of our national PHEOCs is directly linked to the technical expertise and leadership of those present here,” said Dr. Muruta.
Voice from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda
Ambassador Phillip Rukikaire, Head of the Department of Regional Peace and Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to regional pandemic preparedness and cross-border health security.
“The Ministry will continue to support IGAD’s initiatives not only in health and social development but also in peace and security, agriculture, and environmental protection,” he affirmed.
The five-day training is supported by The Pandemic Fund, with the World Health Organization (WHO) acting as the implementing entity—has convened over 60 senior technical officers from IGAD’s seven Member States. Experts from Africa CDC, AFENET, FELTP Uganda, IFRC, and other regional institutions are also participating.
This initiative marks a critical milestone in advancing IGAD’s long-term vision of developing integrated, cross-border health systems aligned with the One Health approach for sustainable and inclusive pandemic resilience.
