Eastern Africa Convene to Reinforce Health Sovereignty as Africa CDC Drives Regional IPC and AMR Action By Raymond Enoch
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), through its Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, has convened a high-level regional workshop bringing together Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) focal points and partners from 11 African Union Member States, marking a significant step toward strengthening health security and regional health sovereignty in Eastern Africa.
The multi-country engagement focused on reinforcing IPC systems, improving surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and sharpening the regional response to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These priorities are central to Africa’s broader ambition to build resilient health systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats without overreliance on external systems.
Beyond technical capacity building, the workshop served as a platform to support the establishment of the Eastern Africa IPC Technical Working Group, a mechanism expected to enhance peer learning, harmonize standards, and strengthen coordination among Member States. The group will play a critical role in translating continental policies into practical, country-level action.
Participants also reviewed key strategic priorities, including sustainable financing for IPC programs, strengthened governance structures, and improved regional coordination. Particular attention was given to the Africa CDC IPC Legal Framework, underscoring the importance of clear regulatory foundations to institutionalize IPC practices and ensure long-term compliance across health systems.
Experts at the meeting emphasized that effective IPC and robust HAI surveillance are not only technical imperatives but also strategic tools in the fight against AMR, which continues to undermine treatment outcomes and strain already stretched health systems across the region.
By aligning technical guidance with legal, financial, and governance considerations, the workshop reinforced Africa CDC’s commitment to country ownership and regional collaboration. The outcomes are expected to accelerate progress toward safer healthcare environments, stronger disease surveillance, and a coordinated Eastern Africa response to AMR—key pillars in advancing Africa’s health sovereignty.
As Eastern Africa deepens regional cooperation through this new IPC platform, the message is clear: safeguarding public health is inseparable from strengthening Africa-led solutions, institutions, and leadership.
