KENYA—The EAC table-top simulation exercise (TTX), organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with Partner States and other technical partners, has successfully tested the activation of the newly established regional rapidly deployable expert pool in Nairobi, Kenya.
This expert pool, created in 2020, draws on lessons from the Ebola outbreak in 2014/15 in West Africa and other infectious disease outbreaks within the EAC.
Its purpose is to ensure a prompt regional response to disease outbreaks, leveraging the expertise of regional professionals.
The primary goal of the TTX was to pinpoint strengths and areas needing improvement in the collaboration and coordination between national, regional, and continental levels during an outbreak scenario.
Additionally, it aimed to develop a detailed roadmap with recommendations on integrating the EAC rapidly deployable expert pool with the AVoHC-SURGE initiative.
This integration is crucial for joint planning, deployments, and capacity development, thereby ensuring a cohesive and effective response to future outbreaks.
A TTX involves a facilitated discussion in a low-stress environment where participants discuss their roles during an emergency.
This setup allows them to practice, evaluate, and identify areas for improvement in their responses to a given scenario.
The Nairobi simulation exercise was part of a three-day workshop, which commenced with joint training sessions led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO).
The training aimed to enhance the capacities and knowledge of Partner States’ and EAC experts, focusing on regional and continental guidelines and mechanisms for rapid response.
It emphasized the African Health Volunteers Corps and the Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (AVoHC-SURGE) initiative, implemented continent-wide.
This initiative is essential in bolstering the region’s preparedness and response capabilities.
During the closing ceremony of the training, Dr. Eric Nzeyimana, Principal Health Officer at the EAC, representing the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political sectors, Hon. Andrea Ariik, underscored the importance of the EAC simulation exercise.
He noted that the lessons learned and recommendations from this exercise place the region in a stronger position, better prepared to tackle future epidemics and pandemics.
Moreover, Dr. Radjabu Bigirimana, AVoHC Lead at the Africa CDC, highlighted the mutual benefits of the close collaboration between the EAC Secretariat and the Africa CDC through the AVoHC-SURGE initiative.
He stated, “A collaboration framework is under development that will allow us to join forces in outbreak response through joint rostering of experts, capacity building, and deployments within the EAC and across the continent.”
Furthermore, Dr. Arisekola Ademola Jinadu, Technical Officer for the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, reminded participants of the importance of following up on the outcomes and recommendations of the simulation exercise at all levels. This follow-up is crucial to inform other ongoing preparedness and response efforts.
The training and TTX brought together more than 50 experts from the health, environment, and livestock sectors, all of whom are in charge of emergency preparedness and response within the EAC Partner States.
Additionally, participants included representatives from the EAC Secretariat, WHO AFRO, Africa CDC, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG).
Together, these experts simulated a response to a cross-border Ebola Virus outbreak in the EAC region, thereby enhancing their collective readiness for future health emergencies.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook
