The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ugandan government have officially launched the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) to strengthen Africa’s emergency health response capabilities amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, News.Az reports, citing Xinhua.
In a statement, Africa CDC said the newly established IMST provides a unified operational platform designed to improve the continent’s ability to prepare for, coordinate and respond to public health emergencies, while also supporting the ongoing response to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease.
The IMST was officially launched on Saturday at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. According to the statement, the platform will provide support to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries considered at risk through coordinated technical assistance, operational planning and multidisciplinary expertise.
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Africa CDC described the launch as a major step forward in strengthening the continent’s public health emergency response system. The agency said the initiative reflects the shared commitment of Africa CDC, WHO and African Union (AU) member states to develop faster, better coordinated and country-led responses to increasingly complex public health threats.
The AU’s specialized public health agency added that the new platform is intended to reinforce regional preparedness and enhance cross-border cooperation, both of which are considered essential to strengthening Africa’s health security.
According to Africa CDC, the IMST will operate under the guiding principles of one team, one plan and one budget. The platform brings together experts in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, infection prevention and control, emergency logistics and operations, risk communication, information management and partner coordination to strengthen outbreak response efforts across the region.
