ETHIOPIA —The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization Regional offices in Africa (WHO-AFRO) have announced a new partnership called the Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP).
This five-year strategic collaboration aims to enhance the continent’s response to various health crises and improve health emergency preparedness and response efforts.
JEAP will build upon existing frameworks and initiatives, leveraging the unique capabilities and resources of both Africa CDC and WHO.
It will be aligned with the Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order, WHO AFRO’s Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030), and WHO EMRO’s four-year strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The plan will focus on strengthening surveillance intelligence and genomic sequencing for quicker detection, establishing sub-regional hubs for stockpiling emergency supplies to enhance response operations, and deploying first responders within 24-48 hours of disease outbreaks.
Additionally, JEAP emphasizes the importance of collaborative initiatives with countries to enhance the continent’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond swiftly to health emergencies.
The partnership symbolizes the power of collaboration in global health, as highlighted by Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
She expressed pride in working together with Africa CDC to fight public health emergencies, save lives, and protect communities, aiming for a healthier and safer future for all Africans.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, echoed the sentiment of partnership and highlighted the significance of joining forces with WHO to safeguard the health of African populations during crises.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized that this collaboration will enhance coordination mechanisms, strengthen institutions, and deliver quality healthcare services to communities.
While Africa faces numerous health emergencies, WHO AFRO emphasizes that the region must do more to prepare.
With over 100 health emergencies occurring each year, climate-related events, humanitarian crises, and infectious diseases pose significant challenges.
The devastating effects of the West African Ebola epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have had severe consequences for health systems and economies in Africa.
To address these challenges, WHO AFRO calls for the establishment of resilient health systems capable of coping with health emergencies while providing quality healthcare.
Implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy, along with the establishment of public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs), is crucial.
Global partners will continue to support these efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness, detection, and response coordination.
Through collective commitment and collaboration, Africa can enhance its readiness and response capabilities, ensuring the well-being of its communities in the face of health emergencies.
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