The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched the Preparedness for Pandemic Response (PREPARE) Project, a $31.9 million initiative aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness, response, and resilience across its member states.
Backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the multi-country and multi-sectoral project is rooted in the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
IGAD member states Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda remain highly vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks due to cross-border movement of people, livestock, and goods. These risks carry not only public health consequences but also serious socio-economic and global implications.
The three-year PREPARE Project, funded by the Pandemic Fund, is designed to reinforce regional and cross-border health systems. WHO will serve as the implementing entity and fiduciary agent, with IFRC as the delivery partner, while IGAD will coordinate implementation at the regional level.
Key areas of focus include:
- Cross-border surveillance and early warning systems to detect and contain outbreaks swiftly.
- Laboratory capacity strengthening for rapid diagnostics and improved detection.
- Workforce development to train and equip health professionals for emergency preparedness.
- Coordination and advocacy mechanisms to ensure evidence-based decision-making and inclusive regional collaboration.
The project has already delivered tangible results. In Uganda, PREPARE supported the country’s recent response to the Mpox outbreak by providing vital laboratory supplies, logistics for sample transport, isolation beds, and IT equipment to enhance reporting systems. During the launch, IGAD handed over medical and logistical supplies worth $700,000 to boost national and subnational outbreak response capacity.
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, welcomed the initiative, calling it both timely and necessary.
“As Uganda, we reaffirm our readiness to work closely with IGAD, member states, and all partners in ensuring the successful implementation of the PREPARE Project. Together, we can build stronger systems, protect lives, and secure the future health and prosperity of our region,” Dr. Aceng said.
By addressing health threats that transcend borders, PREPARE positions the IGAD region to better safeguard lives and livelihoods against future pandemics, while building a more resilient and cooperative regional health security framework.