IGAD works to detect Animal diseases early
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), working with the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), is strengthening animal health surveillance in 11 African countries to prevent diseases from spreading to humans.
The initiative focuses on improving veterinary laboratories and cross-border health monitoring through a programme funded by the World Bank. IGAD recently held a training workshop in Kenya for representatives from nine participating nations, preparing them to assess and improve animal health labs.
The programme will employ the QualiPATH framework to assess labs’ quality and guide improvements as they pursue accreditation. Starting in November 2026, IGAD plans to conduct baseline assessments in five countries, expanding to the remaining six in 2027. Waqo Gufu Boru, IGAD Senior Medical Epidemiologist, explained that early detection in animals allows human health authorities time to prepare for potential outbreaks, citing examples like Ebola, mpox, and influenza.
Dr Mohamed Elduma, IGAD Head of Health Unit, emphasized the importance of addressing disease threats at their source, rather than solely treating human cases after an outbreak. Kenya, which has already accredited three veterinary labs, hopes to expand its capacity with assistance from the programme. Romona Ndanyi, Deputy of Veterinary Services in Kenya, noted that the country currently has only nine qualified lab auditors, which is not enough to meet the needs of all facilities.
