The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ugandan government have officially introduced the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) to enhance health emergency capabilities during the ongoing Ebola outbreak. This initiative, launched at Makerere University in Uganda’s capital Kampala, aims to provide integrated technical assistance, operational coordination, and multidisciplinary expertise to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and neighboring at-risk countries.
The newly established IMST serves as a unified operational platform to bolster Africa’s readiness in preparing for, coordinating, and responding to public health emergencies, particularly in supporting the current Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease response. It signifies a crucial step towards strengthening Africa’s public health emergency architecture and underscores the collective dedication of Africa CDC, WHO, and African Union (AU) member states in fostering faster, more synchronized, and country-led responses to increasingly intricate public health threats.
Guided by the principles of one team, one plan, and one budget, the IMST brings together experts in surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, infection prevention and control, emergency logistics and operations, risk communication, information management, and partner coordination. This collaborative effort aims to enhance outbreak response capabilities across the region, emphasizing regional preparedness and cross-border collaboration as fundamental elements of Africa’s health security.
