East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 21st May, 2019: The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat will convene a cross border field simulation exercise (FSX) at the Namanga border between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania from 11th to 14th June 2019 as directed by the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health in 2015. The FSX aims to enhance the status of preparedness for and response to infectious disease outbreaks in the EAC, thereby making the region safe for the people and businesses in the region. While the majority of the estimated 250 participants will come from the two Partner States, stakeholders from the Republics of Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda and representatives from regional, supra-regional and international institutions and organisations will also participate. Not all the participants will be at Namanga, but work from their usual work places in Dar Es Salaam and Dodoma, Arusha and Nairobi, Longido, Kajiado and in the border area. Only the EAC Secretariat will have its operations centre at the One Stop Border Post (OSBP).
Seventy-five percent of infectious diseases are transmitted between animals and humans. Outbreaks affect agriculture, trade and tourism and the lives and livelihoods of the people. Involving these sectors in prevention, response and mitigation reflects what is called the “One Health” disease management approach. The EAC region has experienced cases of Ebola, Rift Valley, Marburg and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fevers, Cholera, Polio and Plague among others. The current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has so far caused over 1,600 human cases and more than 1,000 deaths, remains a major threat to the health and socio-economic wellbeing of the people of East Africa. Therefore, the region needs to be prepared and the ongoing efforts to operationalize national and regional contingency plans need to be strengthened. In this regard, the planned cross-border Field Simulation Exercise aims to strengthen the capacities of all people involved in preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks across different professions and sectors of society.
An FSX is an interactive instrument to evaluate the status of preparedness for and response to disease outbreaks of organisations or other entities in the EAC region. It simulates a situation under real conditions which could occur at any time. The FSX allows participants to identify strengths and weaknesses and can facilitate practical corrective actions at all levels. It will be used to assess coordination and collaboration mechanisms, emergency response deployment, logistics and administrative processes, risk and crisis communication as well as emergency management and leadership. Findings from the FSX will be used to further improve preparedness and response capacities in the EAC region and beyond.
The scenario of the exercise will mimic a cross border disease outbreak, aggravated by environmental factors and with impact on humans and animals, agriculture, trade and tourism, and the economy as a whole. Early warning, infections and deaths in animals and human beings will prompt the reporting and activation of national and regional preparedness and response mechanisms emphasising the importance of the One Health approach and of appropriate risk and crisis communication as well as cross border collaboration.
Based on the recent need to prepare EAC Partner States for Ebola due to the current outbreak in DRC, the fictitious component will feature a virus that will mutate into a pathogen that can be transmitted between humans causing severe fever and bleeding resulting in increased numbers of cases and deaths. This will help in assessing and building EAC Secretariat’s and Partner States’ capacities to prepare and respond to an Ebola-like situation.
With this press release, the EAC Secretariat informs the public and especially the communities in the border area about the exercise. Around Namanga, selected health facilities, slaughter houses and farms on both sides of the border, military and police, the media and last but not least the public will participate in the FSX. The main focus will be on the One Stop Border Post as the main crossing point for people and goods between the two countries.
Preparations for the Field Simulation Exercise are already ongoing and will be in full swing between 8th and 11th June 2019, ahead of the expected start of the FSX on 11th June 2019.
The exercise is planned and organized in a way that ensures minimal disruption of normal activities traffic at the OSPB and other simulation sites. All sites will be well marked and passengers will be informed about the exercise so that passers-by will know what is going on, when they see the military, ambulances and people in protective gear and can thus behave accordingly and contribute to the success of the exercise.
The cross-border field simulation exercise is supported by the “Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC Region” project, which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements on behalf of the German Government and the EAC. The World Health Organization is providing technical support throughout the planning and implementation of FSX in line with its mandate of implementing the International Health Regulations globally.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 7TH EAST AFRICAN HEALTH AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE 29 MARCH 2019
Based on the Keynotes Speech, Parallel Sessions and Symposia Presentations, the conference recommends that EAC should:
Expedite development and application of innovative approaches (such as the cross boarder health unit model) to cross boarder health, disease outbreak, preparedness and response in boarder areas while adding values to the national health system.
Promote establishment of national bio banks and data repositories among the Partner States and develop a regional policy for guiding the use and security of the repositories.
Urge the Partner States to participate in development, evaluation and formalization of emerging technologies intended for promoting digital health.
Harmonisethe regional IP policy to guide development and uptake of digital health technologies.
Strengthening platform for digital inclusion where communities have full access to information on surveillance and disease management.
Urge the Partner States to fast track the adoption and implementation of Evidence Based Surveillance and enhance mechanisms of sharing information and best practice.
Enhance coordination and collaboration between East African countries and international Institutions involved in diseases control including African CDC.
Urge the Partner States to promote the involvement of frontline healthcare workers in the design of digital health tools to ensure readiness, for easy adoption, decreasing cost, and increased sustainability.
Develop and adopt innovative Regional PPP policies and models specific to digital health Technologies.
East African Community Secretariat, 28th March, 2019:The 18th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Health concluded at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The meeting reviewed progress made in implementing the previous decisions and directives of the Council and Sectoral Council and also considered other issues of importance in the area of health in the region.
…As Digital REACH initiative Strategic Plan 2019-2018, East African Web Portal for Health Information and Young East African Research Scientists (YEARS) forum launched
East African Health Research Commission, 27th March 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E, Samia Hassan Suluhu, has called on East African Community Partner States to invest in Digital Health Technology if the region is to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals and address all aspects of poverty.
“Investing in Health Sector and relevant digital technologies is key for our development that we need to pursue more aggressively as a region,” said Hon. Suluhu.
The Vice-President was speaking during the official opening ceremony of the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC), which is taking place at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
She said Science and technology is an important and vital tool in addressing fundamental gaps in the health sector.
“I wish to commend the organizers for the timely and relevant selection of the theme. Technology for health systems transformation and attainment of the UN-Sustainable Development Goals. This theme comes at an opportune moment as the world is in its fourth industrial revolution where science and technology is taking the lead in all aspects,” added the Vice President.
The Vice president informed the conference that the approval of the Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) 10 years strategic plan by the Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health held in Kigali on 26th October, 2018 was an important step towards achieving transformation in the sector.
“I expect that Digital REACH will support the development and implementation of regional health programmes, within existing EAC Regional policies and legal frameworks as provided by the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and as desired by each of the EAC Partner States,” said.
H.E. Hassan told the participants at the conference that Digital health has been proven as one of the enablers of Sustainable Development Goals in developed countries and a lot of pilot projects all over the world are confirming the same to be the case in low- and middle-income country settings.
‘’I therefore encourage Partner States to support the new development in EAC Partner States and call upon the region to work together through Digital Health Technology and reiterate the commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania to take advantage of Digital Health technology to improve implementation of health sector interventions, with the aim of accelerating attainment of the Universal Health Coverage and SDGs.’’
On his part, the Chairperson of the Sectoral Council on Health and Ministers of State of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, said the digital age was transforming the entire health sector and how healthcare was delivered.
“In fact Digital Health solutions can increase access to health services, deliver training for health professionals, provide better diagnostics and health information,” said Dr. Ndimubanzi, who is also Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of Public Health and Primary Healthcare.
Dr. Ndimubanzi told the conference that ICT and digital health solutions offered the prospect of bringing into reach universal health coverage and the prospect of making health and well-being for all a reality by 2030.
“I am glad to note that the 19th Ordinary Summit of Heads of EAC Partner States held in Kampala in February 2018, committed to invest in Digital Health Technology, as one of the health sector investment priorities for the region for the next 10 years; for better research for health, health services delivery and health outcome,” said Dr. Ndibumanzi.
The Chair the Sectoral Council call upon the region to put in place strategic policies and practical interventions that can help the EAC Region to boost the uptake of digital health technology.
Representing the EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote, said Conference contributes towards strengthening regional cooperation in health in line with Article 118 of the Treaty that established the EAC as well as relevant provisions of the EAC Common Market Protocol which provides a platform or knowledge sharing among health professional in the EAC region.
He urged the EAC Partner States to align their Digital Health strategies and activities with Digital REACH Initiative and to support initiative that complements the national initiatives.
Eng. Mlote said that the conference is expected to come up with the relevant and realistic recommendations for the improvement of health care and delivery through application of technologies for the improvement of the health and the well being of citizens of the Community will be made.
During the official opening, the Vice-President also launched the Digital REACH initiative Strategic Plan 2019-2018, East African Web Portal for Health Information and Young East African Research Scientists (YEARS) forum.
The East African Health and Scientific Conference is biennial and organized on rotational basis within the EAC Partner States.EAC Technical Working Group Meeting on Pilot Testing of Harmonized Pesticides Guidelines fro Efficacy Trials
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Health Research Commission, 26th March, 2019, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E, Samia Hassan Suluhu, will on Wednesday, 27th March, 2019 to grace the official opening of the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The biannual event, which is the 7th in the series, is being held under the theme “Technology for health systems transformation and attainment of the UN-Sustainable Development Goals.’’
East African Health Research Commission, 11th March 2019: Bujumbura: The 2nd meeting of the Regional Steering Committee for the preparation of the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) concluded on Friday in Dar es salaam, with delegates commending the National Steering Committee of the Host Country (United Republic of Tanzania) for the good work done so far in preparation for the event.
The Regional Steering Committee that met on 7th to 8th March 2019 at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), reviewed progress and provided advice where necessary on the preparations.
East African Health Research Commission, 7th March 2019: Dar es Salaam: The Executive Secretary and CEO of the East African Health Research Commission, Prof. Gibson Sammy Kibiki, has disclosed that all is set for the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) due to take place on 27th to 29th March 2019 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNCC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Prof. Kibiki, who was addressing a Press Conference on the sidelines of the 2nd Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the 7th EAHSC taking place at the Tanzania’s National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Dar es Salaam, confirmed that the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Samia Hassan Suluhu has confirmed gracing the official opening of the event.
The theme of the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) is Technology for health systems transformation and attainment of the UN-Sustainable Development Goals.
At the press conference, the Executive Secretary was flanked by Prof. Mohammed Bakari Kambi, the Chief Medical Officer in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health; Prof. Yunus Mgaya, the Director General of NIMR; and Prof. Eligius Lyamuya, the Chair of the 7th East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC).
Prof. Kibiki informed the Journalists that the EAC Council of Ministers approved convening of the biannual event and hosted on a rotational basis by the EAC Partner States through their respective National Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs, Ministries responsible for Health, and other relevant organizations, and in close collaboration with regional and international health-related NGOs, civil society organizations, individuals, and stakeholders.
He noted that the EAHSC contributes towards strengthening regional cooperation in health in line with Article 118 of the Treaty for the Establishment of EAC as well as other relevant provisions of the EAC Common Market Protocol. “It enhances the ideals of the EAC, which is free movement of People, Services, and Goods”.
Prof. Kibiki informed the media that based on the Protocol establishing the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC); the Commission is tasked with the responsibility of coordinating the East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair.
The EAHSC will bring together stakeholders of the health sector from EAC (EAC Secretariat, East African Legislative Assembly, East African Court of Justice, members of the EAC Council of Ministers, members of the Summit, and EAC institutions, EAC Partner States that include Ministers of Health, Finance, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Members of Parliament from National Assemblies, government officials, researchers, scientists, practitioners, civil society, media, donors and development partners and the public at large.
As part of the pre-conference meetings, the East African Health Research Commission will organize the 1st East African Government Leaders, Legislators, and Legal Executives’ Forum (EAGLES’ Forum) on 26th March 2019 also in Dar es Salaam.
EAGLES’ Forum was approved by the 15th EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health as one of the pre-conference meetings of the East African Health and Scientific Conference. It is a dialogue between Bureaucrats and Technocrats that brings together EAC government leaders, members of parliament, Officials from the judiciary system, health experts and the EAHRC to discuss health issues.
“Bringing together the three pillars of governance in the EAC and its Partner States, the forum allows for attaining consensus and collective position on pertinent health issues” noted Prof. Kibiki, adding that “the 1st EAGLES’ Forum will focus on the Digital Regional East African Community Health (REACH) Initiative Strategic Plan approved by the 17th Sectoral Council of Ministers”.
The dialogue will center on alignment of Digital REACH Initiative and Digital Health Initiatives in EAC Partner States; and on addressing issues of resources mobilization for the Digital REACH Initiative. Digital REACH Iniitative will be launched during the opening ceremony of the 7th EAHSC.
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For more information, contact:
Office of the Executive Secretary East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) East African Community Quartier Kigobe, Avenue des Etats Unis, n°71 B.P. 350 Bujumbura, Burundi Mob: +25775568506 Tel: +(257) 22 27 99 80/1/2 Web: http://www.eac.int
About the East African Health Research Commossion:
The East African health Research Commission (EAHRC) is an Institution of the East African Community is a mechanism for making available to the Community, advice upon all matters of health and health-related research and findings necessary for knowledge generation, technological development, policy formulation and practice; and for related matters. It is the principal advisory institution to the EAC on health Research and Development (R&D).
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th March, 2019: Above normal rainfall is expected in the East African region over the next few months, a scenario that could expose the region to increased risks of disease outbreaks.
This forecast is based on the regional climate outlook for the March to May 2019 long rainfall season provided by the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum held in Entebbe, Uganda.
East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) Headquarters, Kigobe, Bujumbura, Burundi, December, 2018: H.E. Gaston Sindimwo, the 1st Vice President of the Republic Burundi graced the official launch of the Headquarters of the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) located in Kigobe, Bujumbura City, Burundi that took place on 4th December 2018.
Also present were Hon. Isabelle Ndahayo, Minister to the Presidency in charge of EAC Affairs; Hon. Thadee Ndikumana, Minister of Health; Hon. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Minister of High Education; Hon. Freddy Mbonimpa, Mayor of Bujumbura; Hon. Jean Baptiste Nzorironkankuze, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; and the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko.
The launch also brought together other Government Officials from Burundi; Diplomatic Corps accredited to Bujumbura; EAC Secretariat and EAC Institutions Executives; Members of EAHRC Commissioners; Stakeholders and Staff.
The 1st Vice President commended the EAC Heads of State Summit for establishing the Institution and the EAC Council of Ministers for allocating Bujumbura City to be the Permanent Headquarters of the Commission. He pledged the Government of Burundi’s full support to the Institution including availing land for the construction of its Headquarter premises, as per the Headquarters Agreement.
Addressing the guests at the launch, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said the operationalisation of the EAHRC commenced in July 2015 but due to various factors, the Commission was able to relocate to Bujumbura in January 2018.
He noted that the relocation was achieved through close collaboration between the East African Community Secretariat and the Government of the Republic of Burundi. The Secretary General commended the Government of Burundi for having facilitated the Commission to procure the headquarters and to relocate to Bujumbura. He urged the Republic of Burundi to fast track the process of granting land where to build the permanent headquarters of the EAHRC.
He also commended the Commission for achieving several milestones since its operationalisation and urged the staff to keep the speed and the commitment high.
Amb. Mfumukeko commended the EAHRC for developing a costed Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) Strategic Plan 2019-2028, which will, among others, implement two (2) of the three (3) sub priorities under the priority of Strengthening of Health Research and Development as approved by the 19th Summit of the EAC Heads of States.
He said the Costed Digital Health Strategic Plan had been approved by the 17th Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on Health that directed the East African Health Research Commission Secretariat to mobilize resources to implement the strategy. In this context, the Secretary General called upon development partners to support the Community to implement the digital health strategic plan.
On his part, the EAHRC Executive Secretary, Prof Gibson Kibiki disclosed that the vision of the Commission is a healthy and prosperous community built on evidence-driven policy and practice, which emanate from high quality research.
The mission is to improve health and well-being of the citizens of the Community by generating, accessing, capturing, assessing, synthesizing, sharing, disseminating, and utilising health research and findings, as well as technological development that are suitable and relevant to the Community and its people.
He asserted that the broad objective of the Commission is to promote, facilitate, and coordinate the conduct and application of health research for the improvement of health and for the wellbeing of the people of East Africa.
In regard to Research environment in the EAC Partner States, Prof Kibiki disclosed that the Commission had carried out baseline assessments and needs on ethics review frameworks that revealed many gaps and challenges. In order to address those gaps and challenges, the Commission was developing a work plan with the aim of creating a good research environment for the development of Research and Development.
The Executive Secretary highlighted some of the significant achievements made by the Commission since its operationalisation in July 2015, which include, among others :-
The development of the EAHRC Strategic Plan 2016-2021 approved by EAC Council of Ministers and its operationalisation;
The development of the Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) initiative which is a coordination mechanism that brings together stakeholders from the EAC region, development partners and other key players outside the region to improve health outcomes across the EAC. The initiative is a novel, and ground-breaking strategy to transform the health service delivery and health outcomes in the region through scaled uptake and utilisation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Digital Health Technology is one of the Health Sector priorities approved by EAC Heads of States for the next 10 years;
Establishment of the Young East African Health Research Scientists’ (YEARS’) Forum which is an initiative aiming to empower East African Community (EAC) young researchers to be able to shape the future of research for health in the region, the initiative was approved by 15th meeting of EAC Council of Ministers;
Organization of the East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) which is an EAC biennial event convened in East Africa by the EAHRC in collaboration with a host EAC Partner State;
Establishment of One-Stop Center for Health Information in East Africa operational through the web portal (www.eahealth.org) which is the official comprehensive compendium of health information in East Africa;
Publishing EAHRC Scientific Journals that are contributing to share with the global scientific community the scientific work part of the EAC region; and
Participating in and facilitating a number of other regional programs and projects.
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For more information please contact:
Office of the Executive Secretary East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) East African Community Quartier KIGOBE, Avenue des Etats Unis, n°71 B.P. 350 Bujumbura Tel: +(257) 22 27 99 80/1/2 Bujumbura, BURUNDI Web: http://www.eac.int
About EAHRC
An Institution of the East African Community, is a mechanism for making available to the Community, advice upon all matters of health and health-related research and findings necessary for knowledge generation, technological development, policy formulation and practice; and for related matters. It is the principal advisory institution to the EAC on health Research and Development (R&D).
The East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) in collaboration with its board of Commissioners is organizing the Official Launch of the Headquarter of the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), located in quartier Kigobe, Republic of Burundi, on 05th December 2018.
The East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC) established by EAC Heads of State on 18th June, 2007 as a mechanism for making available to the community, advise upon all matters of health and health related research and findings necessary for knowledge generation, technological development, policy formulations, practices and related matters. EAHRC is the principal advisory institution to the EAC on Health Research and Development (R&D).
Operationalization of the Commission commenced in July 2015.
As per the decision of the 24th EAC Council of Ministers held in Bujumbura, Burundi, on 26th November 2011 (EAC/CM24/Decision09), the Permanent Headquarters of the Commission is located in the City of Bujumbura in the Republic of Burundi.
The launch of the EAHRC headquarters is expected to bring together Officials from the Government of Burundi, Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Bujumbura, EAC Secretariat, and Executives of the EAC Institutions, Board of EAHRC Commissioners, EAHRC Stakeholders and EAHRC Staff.
For any information about that event, please contact Ms. Betty Nankya via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mob: +25775568506 Tel: +(257) 22 27 99 80/1/2 +(257)22259715 Bujumbura-BURUNDI Web: http://www.eac.int or www.eac.bi
