Ethiopia Signs Cross-Border Health Emergency Pact

Aug 29 , 2026

Ethiopia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen joint preparedness for cross-border health emergencies in Africa. The pact focuses on disease surveillance, timely information-sharing and coordinated responses, particularly for communities along national borders. The MoU, titled “Strengthening Cross-Border All-Hazards Preparedness and Response in Africa: From Fragmented Action to Collaborative Resilience,” was signed on the sidelines of the 76th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD), Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), said diseases such as mpox and Ebola do not respect national borders, making joint preparedness and response necessary. Mesay Hailu (MD), Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, represented Ethiopia. He said stronger surveillance, timely information exchange and coordinated responses are critical to identifying and containing health emergencies in border areas.