Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-04-03 15:03:16
The government of Lesotho has recently endorsed and launched the Emergency, Preparedness, and Response (EPR) Flagship Initiative Roadmap with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC. This initiative was introduced to promote health security in the African region and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 – ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
In 2023, Lesotho enrolled in the WHO EPR Flagships initiative, aiming to improve health emergency preparedness and response within the country. The three main pillars of the EPR flagship initiative include promoting the resilience of systems for emergencies, transforming African surveillance systems, and strengthening and utilizing response groups for emergencies. These initiatives were developed by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa and Africa CDC based on recommendations from various WHO committees and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the endorsement event, key stakeholders highlighted the importance of this initiative. Dr. Richard Banda, WHO Representative to Lesotho, emphasized that health security is a critical mission for the country. He expressed concerns about the deficiencies in coordination, information sharing, and case management that hindered the national response to COVID-19, stressing the need to learn from past mistakes and improve future emergency responses.
Ester Muchenje, National Coordinator for Africa CDC in Lesotho, commended the launch of the flagship roadmap as a significant milestone in protecting the health of the people. Africa CDC is committed to working with the WHO in capacitating Member States to prepare, detect, and respond to health emergencies in alignment with Africa CDC’s mission.
The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Maneo Ntene, acknowledged the support from partners and emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration to achieve health security in Lesotho. She recognized the contributions of partners to the success of the implementation plan and called for continued commitment to mainstream the activities outlined in the roadmap into their plans.
The launch of the EPR Flagship Initiative Roadmap was attended by stakeholders from various government ministries, including Health, Environment, Public Works, and Information, along with representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister. This collaborative effort signifies a joint commitment to improving emergency preparedness and response mechanisms in Lesotho.
Overall, the endorsement and launch of the EPR Flagship Initiative Roadmap in Lesotho mark a significant step towards enhancing health security and building resilience against future health emergencies. By implementing the activities outlined in the roadmap and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Lesotho aims to strengthen its capacity to respond effectively to health crises and safeguard the well-being of its population.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
