Africa CDC, Regional Health Ministers endorse $318 million Ebola response plan
Date: 2026-05-28
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Health ministers from
Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan have joined the
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World
Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),
and more than 100 partners in Kampala for a High-Level Ebola Ministerial
Cross-Border Coordination Meeting aimed at strengthening regional preparedness
and response efforts.
The meeting focused on
improving coordination among countries considered at high risk of Ebola
outbreaks and enhancing cross-border surveillance, emergency response systems,
and public health readiness across the region.
At the end of the meeting,
partners endorsed a joint continental response plan requiring approximately USD
318.9 million to support affected countries and reinforce preparedness measures
in vulnerable areas.
Africa CDC also welcomed the
decision by the Government of Uganda, led by President Yoweri Museveni, to host
the operational headquarters of the Ebola Incident Management Support Team
(IMST) in Kampala. The move is expected to improve coordination and rapid
deployment of emergency response interventions across the region.
Officials emphasized the
importance of stronger regional collaboration, timely information sharing, and
sustained investment in public health systems to contain future outbreaks and
minimize their socio-economic impact.
The meeting concluded with a
special emergency press briefing attended by more than 300 participants,
including government officials, international health organizations,
humanitarian partners, and members of the media.
The gathering forms part of
broader continental efforts to strengthen Africa’s health security architecture
and improve collective preparedness against emerging public health threats.
