Maseru-The Authorities of Lesotho has endorsed and launched the Emergency, Preparedness, and Response Flagship Initiative Roadmap. This was accomplished with the assist from the World Well being Organisation(WHO) and Africa CDC.

In 2023, the nation enrolled within the WHO EPR Flagships initiative. The overarching purpose of the Emergency, Preparedness, and Response flagship initiative is to advertise well being safety within the African Area and contribute to reaching Sustainable Improvement Objective 3 – “guarantee wholesome lives and promote wellbeing for all ages.

The three Emergency, Preparedness, and Response flagship initiatives are (i) selling the resilience of methods for emergencies (ii) reworking African surveillance methods, and (iii) strengthening and using response teams for emergencies.

 These have been developed by the World Well being Group Regional Workplace for Africa and Africa CDC by suggestions from numerous WHO committees and classes discovered from the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen well being emergency preparedness and response for member states within the African area.

Talking on the significance of this initiative throughout the endorsement occasion, WHO Consultant to Lesotho, Dr. Richard Banda acknowledged that well being safety is a important mission for Lesotho.

“If we miss this chance, we threat subjecting Lesotho to the identical flaws that hindered the nationwide response to COVID-19: a deficiency in coordination, info sharing, and case administration.  We can not allow the sample of concern and disrespect to proceed. The pandemic left us all with horrible classes that we’ll by no means have the ability to overlook”.

As well as, the Nationwide Coordinator for Africa CDC in Lesotho, Ester Muchenje stated the launch of the flagship roadmap in Lesotho is an enormous milestone that can guarantee joint efforts to guard the well being of the individuals, and Africa CDC is delighted to be a part of this initiative.

“Africa CDC is working along with the WHO within the flagship initiative to capacitate member states to have the ability to put together, detect, and reply to well being emergencies in step with the Africa CDC’s mission”.

In her remarks, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Well being, Maneo Ntene stated the endorsement and launching of the validated Emergency, Preparedness, and Response  Flagship Initiative Roadmap by stakeholders marks the start of the implementation of actions.

She appreciated the assist from companions and emphasised the necessity for multi-sectoral collaboration to realize well being safety in Lesotho.

“We thank the companions who contributed to the success of the implementation plan. We solicit the dedication of companions and related sectors to mainstream the actions within the roadmap to their plans”.

The launch was attended by stakeholders from the Ministry of Well being, Ministry of Atmosphere, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Data, and representatives from the Workplace of the Prime.