East Africa Anglophone Nations Gear Up for Next Pandemic

Are you PRET^[1]? From 19 March to 22 March 2024, five east African countries participated in a multi-country multidisciplinary workshop, Pandemic Preparedness Planning for Respiratory Pathogen Using PRET Guidance, in Kampala, Uganda. Convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa with support from the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Partnership Contribution and WHO Country Office Uganda, the workshop aimed to support countries in developing their draft national respiratory pandemic plans. The workshop, attended by representatives of the ministries of health, national public health institutes and veterinary services from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia was the fourth multi-country, multidisciplinary workshop in the WHO African Region. The Region has now introduced the PRET approach to 21 of its 47 countries.

The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative is an innovative and efficient approach to improving pandemic preparedness. PRET acknowledges that the same systems, capacities, knowledge and tools can be leveraged and applied for groups of pathogens based on their mode of transmission. Participants recognized the importance of applying the PRET approach which emphasizes whole-of-government and whole-of-society inclusion in pandemic preparedness and response in the Africa Region. They particularly appreciated that PRET compliments existing preparedness processes and that the investments made under existing initiatives and plans such as the International Health Regulations (International Health Regulations (2005)) capacities, Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness Response and Resilience framework, Promoting Resilience of Systems for Promoting Resilience of Systems for Emergencies flagship project, National Actions Plans for Health National Actions Plans for Health Security (NAPHS), could be capitalized on for respiratory pandemic preparedness.

The four-day workshop provided a platform for participants to share valuable insights and expertise on pandemic preparedness planning. Outcomes from each country at the end of the workshop were: (1) a draft of a national respiratory pandemic plan from each country, using the PRET guidance, and (2) a clear roadmap with timelines, responsibilities and milestones for finalization and endorsement of the plan.

Pandemic planning is gaining momentum. WHO will continue to support countries in finalizing and implementing their respiratory pathogen pandemic plans to strengthen pandemic preparedness and health security in the African region.

Reflections from the participants

[1] PRET means "ready" in English and it is the acronym for the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats initiative

Photo credit: WHO Country Office Uganda