The Ethio-Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Project held its first Annual Review Meeting from 9 to 11 July 2025 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The review brought together high-degree government officials, technical consultants, UN representatives, and other companions committed to advancing Ethiopia’s pandemic preparedness thru a unified One Health scheme. Contributors incorporated representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Animal Health Institute (AHI), Armauer Hansen Examine Institute (AHRI), regional bureaus, academia, UN agencies, and key construction companions, including the UK Health Security Agency.
The meeting was once formally opened by Dr. Mebratu Masebo, on behalf of the Minister of Health, surroundings the tone for a high-degree, collaborative swap. Famed keynote speakers incorporated H.E. Professor Afework Kassu, Director Total of AHRI; H.E. Dr. Tesfaye Rufael, Director Total of AHI; Dr. Patrick Okumu Abok, Team Lead, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, on behalf of the WHO Handbook in Ethiopia; Ms. Farai Zimudzi, FAO Country Handbook; and Dr. Daniel Ngemera from UNICEF Ethiopia. Their opening remarks underscored the urgency and importance of wrong-sectoral collaboration in pandemic risk management.
A gallery walk showcased key achievements from the first year of implementation, highlighting the project’s sturdy alignment with nationwide One Health priorities. The interactive exhibition gave stakeholders a visible and experiential notion of interconnected activities and development made all the scheme thru sectors. Leaders from human and animal health sectors, construction companions, and instructional institutions engaged with the displays, recognizing Ethiopia’s rising role as a regional chief in pandemic preparedness.
Implementing and transport companions offered the project’s accomplishments, reflecting a year of resolution, innovation, and resilience. Regardless of early implementation challenges, the EPPR Project has demonstrated measurable results and earned monumental praise from government officials and companions. Ethiopia is increasingly more more regarded as a world example of how pandemic preparedness could perchance be constructed-in all the scheme thru sectors to construct a tough, responsive health system.
twelve months Two priorities, developed and refined by the project’s Technical Working Teams (TWGs), had been shared with the broader stakeholder group to make certain that alignment, ownership, and accountability. The revised workplan emphasizes accelerating regional implementation, deepening local ability, and strengthening wrong-sector coordination.
Three belief-horrifying panel discussions equipped opportunities for deeper reflection and ahead-searching dialogue:
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The first panel, led by H.E. Dr. Melkamu Abte, centered on EPPR’s contribution to Ethiopia’s nationwide emergency preparedness and response system.
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The 2d, moderated by Dr. Feyesa Regassa, addressed One Health integration and wrong-sector collaboration.
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The third, led by Dr. Shahira Ahmed Malm, explored programs for sustainable resource mobilization and co-investment.
These expert discussions generated actionable insights and strategic solutions to manual the project’s future direction.
The meeting’s outcomes assume no longer simplest the nationwide development made, however furthermore the rising significance of Ethiopia’s leadership in the world pandemic preparedness enviornment. Supported by the Pandemic Fund—launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali and hosted by the World Bank Neighborhood with WHO as technical lead—the EPPR Project stands as a flagship example of how world financing and nationwide ownership can converge to take care of one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. With a shared imaginative and prescient and collective resolution, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to continue constructing a safer, more healthy, and more prepared Ethiopia.
The meeting concluded with positive commitments for the next fragment of the project. Stakeholders agreed on the importance of documenting experiences thru coverage briefs and scientific publications; trengthening coordination platforms to shield away from duplication and construct synergy and Jointly mobilizing resources thru a One Health financing scheme. The other actions agreed on had been promoting info sharing by scheme of webinars, gallery walks, and area visits, deepening partnerships with academia to strengthen research and practicing, and Mapping and registering expert team of workers people for mercurial deployment one day of emergencies, aligning technical experience with regional wants.
Project leadership emphasized the must reassess the tempo of implementation, delay regional engagement, and be sure that tangible impression at the community degree. Sustained leadership commitment, strategic advocacy, and a tradition of shared accountability all the scheme thru sectors can be serious to asserting momentum and achieving prolonged-term success.
