Africa CDC, WHO Launch Ebola Response Platform

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the Ugandan government have launched a joint platform to strengthen Africa’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

Known as the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), the initiative was unveiled on Sunday to improve preparedness, coordination and emergency response across the continent while supporting efforts to contain the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

The platform will operate from Makerere University in Uganda, providing technical expertise, operational support and multidisciplinary coordination to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and neighbouring countries considered at risk of the outbreak.

Africa CDC said the initiative creates a unified operational framework to improve cross-border collaboration, reinforce regional preparedness and strengthen public health emergency response systems.

According to the latest figures, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 1,155 confirmed Ebola cases, including more than 300 deaths, while Uganda has confirmed 20 infections and two fatalities linked to the outbreak.

Africa CDC official Tolbert Nyenswah said the platform demonstrates the continent’s commitment to strengthening African institutions and supporting country-led responses to disease outbreaks through technical cooperation and regional partnerships.

Marie-Roseline Belizaire of the WHO Regional Office for Africa said the initiative would reinforce national leadership and improve coordination between neighbouring countries during public health emergencies. It remains unclear how long the joint platform will remain in operation.

SOURCE: Anadolu Agency