As public health challenges continue to escalate globally, Kenya is set to host the inaugural East Africa Regional Global Health Security Summit (EARGHSS 2025) from 28th to 30th January 2025 at Pwani University in Kilifi.
The summit aims to enhance health emergency preparedness through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovative strategies.
In her presentation at the summit’s media launch in Nairobi, Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal secretary, state department for public health and professional standards stressed the urgency of a unified response to health threats.
“The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the profound impacts global health outbreaks can have on our economy and public health, highlighting the critical need for coordinated action,” she said.
Dr Emannuel Nzai, Chairperson of the Vision 2030 Delivery board said that Covid 19 exposed gaps in preparedness and inequalities in distribution of pandemic commodities such as vaccines to combat the virus.
He said that never again should we be caught unprepared again and called for public private partnerships to build responsive health systems to counter pandemics and other health emergencies.
The summit, organized by the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Africa CDC Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, Kenya Vision 2030 delivery board, Amref International University, Jumuiya Economic Development Secretariat will bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies for prevention, preparedness, and response to health threats in the region.
Reflecting on past achievements, Muthoni noted that Africa has made significant progress against major infectious diseases over the last two decades, but warned that emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are becoming increasingly frequent.
“Large outbreaks like the Ebola crises in West Africa have disrupted healthcare services and economic development. The attention garnered has led to the creation of new institutions, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention,” she said.
She added that the ongoing Mpox outbreak further emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive health security measures with the current outbreak highlighting the urgent need for preparedness.
“By fostering a culture of preparedness and collaboration, we can enhance our ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies,” Ps Muthoni emphasized adding that “The summit will advance a shared goal of building resilient health systems capable of addressing emerging infectious diseases and fortifying public health infrastructures.”
As the region grapples with ongoing health challenges such as the Mpox outbreak and the lingering effects of COVID-19, the summit represents a vital opportunity to strengthen regional health security and ensure a coordinated approach to future crises.
James Lawler from the University of Nebraska Medical Center said that the summit will help in developing actionable plans for sustainable health system strengthening and emergency preparedness that cut across sectors at the local level.
He said that pandemics are aggregation of local epidemics and maintaining functional health systems in time of health emergencies is important to public health.
The summit will focus on pandemic preparedness and response learning from the lessons from Covid 19 to inform future preparedness strategies, he added.
“It will also focus on bioterrorism and biosecurity looking at strategies to mitigate biological risks, health systems strengthening, global health equity, innovative health technologies such as role of AI, big data and telemedicine and building regional capacity for manufacturing, delivery and sustainability of healthcare good and services.”
Dr. Judith Kose, AfricaCDC Regional Program Lead for the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating center (Eastern Africa RCC) emphasized that strengthening partnerships, both regional and global, is critical for enhancing preparedness and resilience in the face of future health threats.
She added that the interconnected nature of health security—where diseases know no borders—requires a united front not only regional cooperation but also the strengthening of global partnerships spanning countries, the public sector, private sector, and civil society.
Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, Chair of the East Africa Regional Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (EA ReTAC), emphasized the importance of this gathering in shaping the future of health security in the region.
With public health challenges becoming increasingly complex, the upcoming summit is seen as a critical platform for fostering collaboration and developing strategies to safeguard health across the region,” he said.
While Dr Ambrose Talisuma Senior Health Advisor Programmes-WHO Liaison Office to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa said that Africa is hot bed for public health emergencies.
He added that at present there are close to 130 public health emergencies that are ongoing in Africa, including Mpox, COVID-19, Cholera, Measles and Wild and Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus to mention but a few.
“Over 20 million people are at risk of starvation in the Greater Horn of Africa Region,17 million people in the African Region are displaced, Over the years, emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and Marburg Virus Diseases, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Rift Valley Fever, O’nyong’nyong, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, and the chikungunya viruses, have placed a huge burden on East African.”
He added that “COVID-19 reinforced the importance of resilient health systems that can ensure continuity in essential services, even during global health shocks. It also underscores the importance of regional cooperation and innovation to tackle global health challenges, including vaccine-preventable diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).”
