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July 30, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“East Africa: Region’s Health Ministers Sign Protocol to Prevent Epidemics”

Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (07/28/03)

Health ministry representatives from six nations in Africa’s Great Lakes region have signed a protocol to cooperate in preventing and controlling epidemics in the area, through epidemiological surveillance, laboratories, and communication systems, as well as the monitoring of drug resistance, vaccination, sanitation, social mobilization, and safe water supply.  World Health Organization (WHO) regional director Dr. Luis G. Sambo, speaking at the signing of the protocol, said that the WHO will strengthen its inter-country team to give greater support to the protocol’s activities, and noted that the signatory nations should concentrate on malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.  Sambo urged constant information exchange among the nations, and Uganda third deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura called for the creation of better information technology systems, reliable surveillance guidelines, and strengthened laboratory capacity.  The protocol was first signed in 1997, and has now been reviewed and updated.