EPHI and Partners Convene Coordination Meeting on Mpox Outbreak Response
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partner organizations, convened a high-level partner coordination meeting today at EPHI’s meeting venue to strengthen the national response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of EPHI, emphasized the critical importance of a unified and well-coordinated response to address the Mpox outbreak, which continues to pose a serious public health concern at national, continental, and global levels.
Dr. Mesay stated that strengthening the response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak is not only essential but urgent. While commendable steps have already been taken by EPHI, the MoH, and partners, he emphasized that more coordinated efforts are needed. The Director General also stressed that the Incident Management System (IMS) must function as a unified structure. Dr. Messay urged all stakeholders to actively engage and align their efforts and resources with national priorities. He highlighted the importance of harmonizing resources, delivering unified messages, and taking inclusive actions to ensure the effectiveness of the Mpox response.
Dr. Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director General of EPHI and Incident Manager for the Mpox response, delivered the welcoming address. He reaffirmed the urgency of a coordinated approach, stating the confirmation of Mpox cases marks a critical moment in our public health response. This situation demands swift, collective, and strategic action.
Dr. Melkamu stressed that the partners’ coordination meeting on the Mpox outbreak response was essential to align partner activities with the Mpox IMS Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), review the current response strategy to identify immediate support needs, and enhance collaboration and information sharing among all stakeholders operating under the national incident management system.
The Deputy Director expressed appreciation for partners already engaged in key IMS pillars, including surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), logistics, and risk communication. He also presented an update on the current national Mpox situation and outlined the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
Currently, confirmed Mpox cases have been reported in two regions, signaling an urgent need for intensified efforts to prevent further spread. The meeting primarily focused on evaluating and reinforcing the EPRP to contain the outbreak before it escalates to additional regions. The coordination meeting served as a platform for reaffirming partner commitment, sharing updates, and discussing joint actions to bolster the national response framework.