ECSA-HC strengthens digital preparedness systems against cross-border disease outbreaks

BUKOBA: A team of experts from the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) has visited the Mtukula and Kabanga-Kobero border posts between Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi to assess and strengthen digital preparedness systems for responding to cross-border disease outbreaks, including Ebola.

The team, accompanied by health experts from the ministries of health of Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi, is conducting a review aimed at enhancing regional capacity to manage outbreaks and ensuring there are no gaps in efforts to contain infectious diseases at border points.

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As part of the exercise, East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community is also training frontline health workers stationed at border areas within member states to improve rapid and effective emergency response amid rising Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The move follows the declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention classified it as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security concern for Africa.