THE NAPHS RESOURCE MAPPING REQUIRES COOPERATIVE EFFORTS
The Ethiopian National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) resource mapping workshop was officially opened here in Addia Ababa on June 18, 2024.
Dr. Dereje Duguma, the State Minister of Health, emphasized during the workshop’s opening that Ethiopia aims to achieve universal health coverage goals and upholds its adherence to the International Health Regulation (2005). The state minister went on to say, “With the implementation of the NAPHS, Ethiopia’s government has shown a strong commitment to improving the nation’s capacity and capabilities for public health emergency response, prevention, detection, and readiness.” Dr. Dereje continued by stating that for the next five years, the Ministry of Health, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute, and other institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture are all dedicated to assisting in the implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security. He urged all of the partners to contribute their financial and technical resources to the program’s execution.
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s (EPHI), Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General, stated that Ethiopia has now completed the NAPHS coasting in accordance with the national action plan. All health stakeholders have actively participated in the NAPHS preparatory process, showing a great deal of excitement and unwavering commitment to building Ethiopia’s capacities for the implementation of the IHR (2005). The director general acknowledged and expressed gratitude to all of the important sectors that were involved in the planning, reviewing, and validating the NAPHS. He continued by saying that more than 15 partner representatives from 12 organizations and 19 government sectors and institutions, as well as UN agencies, had been involved in the process. In this context, the director general stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary and multisectoral strategy for NAPHS implementation and oversight.
In his welcome address, Dr. Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director General of EPHI, emphasized that creating a strong national action plan is only the first step. In order to properly execute the national initiatives, it is necessary to identify the technical and financial resources that are available in order to accomplish these goals. According to the Deputy Director General, it is crucial to investigate all available financial sources, both domestic and foreign, to facilitate the implementation of the NAPHS. Establishing collaborations and partnerships will be essential to maximizing the combined knowledge and assets for increased influence.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Dr. Woubishet Zewdeie stated on his behalf that the ministry works hard to ensure that the NAPHS strategy is carried out. As per Dr. Woubishet, ensuring the successful implementation of the national action plan for health security necessitates greater collaboration than before among all sectors, partners, and stakeholders. All pertinent institutions and stakeholders must work together to prevent and control zoonotic illnesses, developing pandemic risks, and other public health incidents. Dr. Woubishet went on to say that cooperation and coordination across all partners and sectors are essential because the health of domestic animals, wildlife, and the community as a whole all depend on it.
On his behalf, Dr. Feyesa Regassa, Head of the International Health Regulation and One Health Office, pointed out that NAPHS is a national program that can expedite the implementation of IHR key capabilities. IHR development, implementation, and monitoring must adhere to the one health approach (2005). Dr. Feyesa went on to say that the first steps in guaranteeing national health security are coordination and collaboration, resource mapping and mobilization, and strengthening the nation’s health systems to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats and public health emergencies of international and national concern.
The WHO has been providing Ethiopia with technical and financial support for the implementation and management of IHR, according to WHO official Dr. Fekadu Adugna. According to Dr. Fekadu, WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the plan and assisting the government in securing the health security of the country. Dr. Fekadu went on to say that WHO Ethiopia actively participated in the creation and execution of the previous NAPHS version and is currently still involved in the development of the new NAPHS and its resource mapping.
On his behalfFAO’s representative, Dr. Njagu Chengera, also reaffirmed FAO’s steadfast commitment to continue supporting the Ethiopian NAPHS’s implementation. According to Dr. Chengera, FAO acknowledges the connection between animal and human health. The FAO has launched several ONE Health programs to assist these endeavors in Ethiopia, where agriculture is the main driver of the country’s economy and way of life.
In order to assist Ethiopia in addressing gaps in global health security, Dr. Noah Mattew Sprafkin, the lead of the USAID Infection Disease Team, stated on his behalf that USAID will keep promoting a One Health strategy and investing in capacity building at the national and subnational levels.
The representative of CDC Ethiopia, Dr. Brehanu Amare, reaffirms the organization’s dedication to upholding the principles of the National Health Security Strategy with renewed vigor, ensuring that going forward, public health emergencies will be addressed quickly and effectively, and that no person or community has to face these difficulties alone.
For IHR initiatives to be implemented successfully, UKHSA currently strengthens their implementation, according to UKSHA head Sajil Liaqat. Dr. Sajil went on to say that as effective public health requires teamwork and a concerted effort, the UKHSA will continue to support the national NAPHS initiatives.
Ethiopia is now embarking on the new NAPHS 2024–28. NAPHS, a multi-year planning process owned by the nation, is based on the One Health concept, the whole-government approach to all threats, ensuring health security in Ethiopia, and meeting IHR standards. It has the potential to expedite the implementation of IHR core capacities. NAPHS captures national priorities for health security, brings sectors together, identifies partners, and allocates resources for health security capacity development to improve the ability to detect, prevent, and respond to public health emergencies of international concern and subsequently lessen their social and economic impact.