Addis Ababa, November 19, 2024 (FBC) – The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are convening the Second Regional Advisory Committee Meeting for the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience (HEPRR) program in Addis Ababa from November 19 to 21, 2024.
The meeting sees participation from Health Ministers and senior officials from member states, alongside representatives from the Africa CDC, WHO Afro, and regional economic communities including SADC and EAC. Public health experts, civil society, and private sector partners involved in strengthening health systems are also at this three-day event.
Key agenda items include discussions on local manufacturing to promote self-sustainability, addressing Antimicrobial Resistance in the wake of recent political declarations, promoting gender equity in health emergency measures, and improving cross-border coordination for health security.
The gathering aims to provide a platform for policymakers and health stakeholders to evaluate the progress of regional health initiatives since the last meeting, identify critical gaps, and collaborate on strategies to enhance health systems. Additionally, it seeks to align HEPRR activities with global health security frameworks and bolster regional coordination mechanisms for future health emergencies.
In his welcoming remarks at the meeting, acting Director General of ECSA, Mr. Sibusiso Sibandze, pledged commitment to enhance cooperation with IGAD in strengthening health system resilience and multi-sectoral preparedness and response to health emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Participants highlighted the ongoing health challenges faced by Eastern and Southern Africa, including rising antimicrobial resistance and threats from diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, and Marburg. In her opening remarks, the Ethiopian Minister of Health emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and strengthening health systems to effectively manage emergencies.
Fathia Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development at IGAD, reiterated the organization’s commitment to enhancing collaborations that strengthen vulnerable health systems, improve pandemic preparedness, and ensure health resilience in the region.
Yewudalem Tesfaye, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Health, noted that the World Bank is assisting Ethiopia in establishing the ShieldVax Enterprise, which aims to produce key vaccines as part of the government’s strategy to enhance health system capacities. Similar support is being extended to other member nations to help address major health threats.
These initiatives are projected to significantly improve disease prevention, making conditions manageable and potentially reducing population mortality rates, Yewudalem added, with discussions on these topics expected to take place during the meeting.
The HEPRR program, funded by the World Bank, seeks to boost the capabilities of participating nations—Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and Sao Tome & Principe—in managing health emergencies effectively.