East African Community (EAC) Strengthens Regional Response to Ebola and Infectious Diseases with €5 Million German Partnership
The East African Community (EAC) is intensifying its regional efforts to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak while bolstering preparedness measures against communicable diseases across the region. On June 12, 2026, the EAC and KfW Development Bank formalized a partnership worth €5 million aimed at enhancing the regional health sector’s capacity to address Mpox and other infectious disease outbreaks. This initiative also includes significant investments in laboratory capabilities throughout the region.
Partnership Details and Signatories
The agreement was signed by EAC Secretary General Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi and KfW Development Bank Country Director for Tanzania and the EAC, Ms. Vanessa Eidt. In addition to the €5 million commitment, Germany has pledged an extra €3 million through KfW to support ongoing Ebola response efforts in the region.
During the signing ceremony at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, Amb. Mbundi expressed gratitude for Germany’s unwavering commitment to enhancing resilient regional systems that serve the people of East Africa. He recognized Germany as a vital strategic partner in the EAC’s mission to promote regional integration and development.
Implications for Public Health Coordination
Amb. Mbundi emphasized that this support will significantly advance the EAC’s regional coordination in addressing public health threats. Key areas of focus will include strengthening surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory capacities, and mobilizing technical expertise across Partner States.
The German delegation, led by Mr. Manuel Müller, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, highlighted the importance of long-term investment in regional preparedness. Mr. Müller noted that the collaboration between German development cooperation and the EAC has been instrumental in establishing early warning systems, training medical professionals, and ensuring continuous laboratory testing.
Strengthening Regional Health Security
The additional support from Germany underscores ongoing efforts by the EAC and its partners to enhance regional solidarity and preparedness capacities. Since 2016, Germany has played a crucial role in strengthening disease surveillance systems, laboratory networks, workforce development, and emergency response mechanisms across the EAC.
As part of this collaboration, the EAC has recently launched a mobile laboratory supported by the German Government. To date, ten mobile laboratories have been deployed across seven Partner States, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. These mobile laboratories provide rapid diagnostic services, facilitating early detection and timely outbreak containment.
The EAC Mobile Laboratory Network was established under the Regional Network of Reference Laboratories for Combating Communicable Diseases Project, which is implemented by the EAC with technical support from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) and financial backing from the German Government through KfW.
Past Achievements and Future Training Initiatives
These laboratories have proven essential in responding to major public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the 2023 Marburg outbreak in Tanzania, and the regional Mpox outbreak in 2024. Additionally, the EAC has received 500 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the German Government to support frontline health workers engaged in preparedness and response activities.
Amb. Mbundi noted that EAC Partner States are facilitating the deployment of technical experts at strategic locations, such as border points and identified hotspots. The EAC Rapidly Deployable Pool of Experts (RDE), a multidisciplinary network of over 180 experts operating under a One Health approach, has been pivotal in enhancing this response by enabling rapid deployment during outbreaks and public health emergencies.
To further bolster regional readiness, healthcare workers and RDE members will undergo targeted training in infection prevention and control, risk communication, risk assessment, and outbreak management. These initiatives are part of the Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC Region (PanPrep) project, implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG), and the African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC) of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Current Health Landscape and Ongoing Challenges
As of June 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda continue to report cases of Ebola Virus Disease, highlighting the necessity for sustained vigilance and coordinated regional action. EAC Partner States have faced recurrent outbreaks of infectious diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, Measles, Avian Influenza, and COVID-19, all of which pose significant threats to public health, livelihoods, and economic stability.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Aguer Ariik Malueth, attended the signing ceremony, along with other members of the German delegation, including Ms. Julia Kronberg, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Ms. Anne Hahn, GIZ Country Director for Tanzania/EAC, and Mr. Bjorn Richter, GIZ Cluster Coordinator.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-06-13 16:46:00 • By the Editorial Desk
